Here’s what South Koreans are concerned about as they vote for parliament this week

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Soaring green onion prices. Striking doctors. A politician’s allegedly sexist jab at a female candidate.

These are among the issues animating voters in South Korea as they go the polls on Wednesday to elect a new 300-member parliament. Many are choosing public livelihoods and other domestic concerns as the most important election issues, staying away from traditional topics such as North Korean nuclear threats and U.S. security commitment for South Korea.

“I feel drawn to someone who talks about things that can be truly helpful to our neighborhoods,” said Kim Yun-ah, a 45-year-old Seoul officer worker. “I often don’t know when North Korea test-fired missiles.”

Experts say up to 30% to 40% of South Korea’s 44 million voters are politically neutral and their choices could determine election results.

Here’s a look at some of the burning issues in the elections:

CAN MODERATES SWAY THE VOTE?

South Korea’s conservative-liberal divide is so stark that many likely have already determined who they’ll vote for according to their party affiliation, rather than by looking at candidates’ policies in their districts.

But the extreme polarization also has led to a growing number of moderates who are fed up with partisan strife and focus more on issues directly affecting them such as prices, jobs and taxes, according to Choi Jin, director of the Seoul-based Institute of Presidential Leadership.

Choi estimated that roughly 30% of South Koreans consider themselves conservatives, another 30% liberals and the remaining 40% moderates. Other experts put the proportion of moderates at 30%.

“In a nutshell, even if conservatives and liberals intensely bicker over political issues, that won’t influence election results much,”