"There should be more of a hunger to find the people responsible."

He had promised to put women in top positions in the government and appointed a woman as co-chair of the DP's emergency committee."It's evident that the DP is focusing significantly less on young women than they did in the [2022] presidential election," Ms Kim says.

Prof Go believes it's because Lee "lost by a very narrow margin" back then. So this time, he is "casting the widest net possible" for votes. "And embracing feminist issues is not a good strategy for that."That stings for young women like Saeyeon, especially after the role they played in the protests calling for Yoon's impeachment: "Our voices don't seem to be reflected in the [campaign] pledges at all. I feel a bit abandoned."The ruling party's Kim Moon-soo, who served in Yoon's cabinet as labour minister, has emphasised raising birth rates by offering more financial support to parents.

But many women say rising costs are not the only obstacle. And that most politicians don't address the deeper inequalities - which make it hard to balance a career and family - that are making so many women reconsider the usual choices.The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, which Yoon had wanted to shut down, has also re-emerged as a sticking point.

Lee has vowed to strengthen the ministry, while Kim says he will replace it with a Ministry of Future Youth and Family.

The ministry already focuses on family services, education and welfare for children. Just under 7% of its total funding, which is about 0.2% of the government's annual budget, goes towards improving equality for women. But Prof Go says the ministry was "politicised by Yoon and has since been weaponised".As part of the action plan, food and drink offerings will be reviewed and "more co-ordinated" marketing will be carried out to boost ticket sales.

But the council said fees and charges had already been increased at the venue - and would be reviewed again in the middle of the year to "assess if any further commercial opportunities exist".The money will also pay for improving the venue's reception area, refurbishing toilets and creating a more attractive entrance.

Originally a Civic Hall built in 1973, The Beacon now has a theatre, dance studio and three function rooms.The improvements are the second phase of an action plan - and the council said it had already done things like start National Theatre Live screenings and re-introduce a cafe.