In this episode of The Youth Element, join us as we investigate how a prominent group of students in Japan called SEALDs (Students Emergency Action for Liberal Democracy), tried to reinvigorate the idea of political participation amongst the younger demographic. We’ll not only examine the group's brief success in shaking up the status quo and dispelling the image of the apolitical generation, but also the idea behind this so-called “political allergy” towards politics and civic engagement.

In this episode of The Youth Element, join us as we explore how South Korea and Taiwan’s military service is more than just a stage in a young person's life. We’ll be looking at not only how our current generation of youth feels about the service and its purpose in their respective societies, but we’ll also look at how other aspects of life and culture are influenced by the military – from geopolitics to your favourite k-pop band.

The first episode of The Youth Element is all about new beginnings: the beginning of this podcast series, the beginning of our personal journeys in creating this project, as well as the beginning of a brand new school year. Join us, Justin and Linda, as we break down what The Youth Element is all about. Then, stay tuned as we dive straight into our first topic of the series: school.

Welcome to The Youth Element podcast. Over the next several weeks, join co-hosts Justin Kwan and Linda Qian as they travel across five cities in East Asia: Shanghai, Taipei, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Seoul, to listen to the voices of millennials and learn more about contemporary East Asia through their views and the stories of their own lives.