Traditional gender gap in a modernized society: Gender dynamics in voter turnout in Korea

Abstract

This study examines the gender gap in voter turnout across age groups in Korea. By employing the two concepts of gender gap suggested by Inglehart and Norris (2000), it shows that in comparison with other developed democracies, Korean voter turnout by gender and age group reveals a different pattern, in particular among younger age groups. The district-level analysis of the Seoul Metropolitan area shows that the traditional gender gap in voter turnout was more prevalent in the most developed, modernized district despite the entry of a new generation of female voters with modern attributes. This implies that despite Korea’s recognized status as a modernized country, Korean voters are still influenced by traditional values such as those found in a patriarchal culture and when it comes to elections in particular, young voters are disproportionally influenced.