South Korean support for reunification falls below 40%, youth least enthusiastic
A new poll shows less than 40% of South Koreans consider reunification with the North necessary, with younger generations showing the lowest support.
According to a survey conducted by Gallup Korea for Seoul National University's Institute for Peace and Unification Studies, only 39% of South Korean respondents believe reunification with North Korea is necessary, a decline from the previous year. Among adults in their 20s and 30s, just 25.2% and 27% respectively see reunification as needed, while 44.8% and 47% consider it unnecessary. The proportion viewing reunification as not needed rose to 32.2%, and a record 31.5% now favor maintaining the division.
Distrust of the North increased, with 78.3% saying dialogue is impossible, and 83.3% believing the North Korean regime does not want reunification. Support for South Korea developing its own nuclear arsenal also reached a record 61.1%. The poll surveyed 1,200 adults between July 1 and 26, with a margin of error of ±2.8 percentage points.
Why it matters
Public opinion on Korean reunification influences future policy and regional stability.
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