A recent poll shows that 79.4% of South Koreans prioritize peaceful coexistence between North and South Korea over reunification.
The Ministry of Unification released findings from a survey on “Public Attitudes Towards Peace and Unification Issues” conducted by Gallup Korea on Thursday. The results indicate that 79.4% of respondents agree that peaceful coexistence between the two Koreas is more crucial than reunification.
The survey revealed that 64.6% of participants view North Korea as a single nation rather than a separate regime, while 42.6% see it as a potential partner for cooperation. Conversely, 23.8% of respondents consider North Korea a security concern, and 22.6% view it as an adversary. Only 8.4% believe North Korea should be a recipient of government aid.
Notably, 80% of respondents are aware of North Korea’s stance on the two-hostile-states narrative, while 69.9% support the concept of a peaceful relationship between the two nations working towards eventual unification.
The survey also found that over half of the participants (62%) believe reunification is necessary. The primary reasons cited were the need to establish lasting peace (37.3%) and to boost economic growth and enhance national prestige (34.2%).
This nationwide survey was conducted from December 2 to 8, involving 1,005 adults aged 18 and older through telephone interviews. The results are at the 95% confidence level, with a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points.