61% of young South Koreans say unification with North unnecessary: survey

SEOUL – About 60% of South Koreans in their 20s and 30s said unification with North Korea is not necessary, a survey showed today, amid a prolonged impasse in inter-Korean relations and denuclearisation talks.

According to Yonhap news agency, the survey, commissioned by a civic media group called Barun Media Citizen Action, found that 61% of people in their 20s and 30s say Korean reunification is “not absolutely necessary.”

In comparison, 24% of them say unification with North Korea is “absolutely necessary”, it said.

North Korea has ramped up tensions by carrying out a flurry of weapons tests, including a recent launch of what it claimed to be a solid-fuel Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile.

According to the survey of 1,001 people, 91% of them have unfavourable views of China and 88% have unfavourable views of North Korea.

In contrast, 67% have favourable views of the United States and 63% have favourable views of Japan.

The poll, conducted by pollster Kopra from April 13 to 18, had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. – Bernama, April 23, 2023