Can Korea produce its own Zohran Mamdani?

In the lead-up to the November midterm elections, a new wave of left-leaning politicians in the United States is gaining significant traction in primary elections. The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), a relatively small force nationwide, has seen a number of its candidates advance through the Democratic primaries. Among these successful candidates is New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who followed in the footsteps of younger challengers such as 29-year-old Melat Kiros, who defeated a 15-term incumbent in Colorado, and 32-year-old Darializa Avila Chevalier, who secured her party's nomination in New York.

While Korean American Francesca Hong faced a narrow loss in the gubernatorial primary in Wisconsin, the success of Abdul El-Sayed in the Michigan primary highlights the broad appeal of younger candidates among Democratic voters. El-Sayed, who is not affiliated with the DSA nor formally endorsed by them, received the support of Bernie Sanders. However, it is important to note that this surge should not be overstated, as the Democratic socialist label on candidates still has limited national appeal.