LIGHTS OFF. The historic Sungnyemun (Namdaemun) gate in Seoul, South Korea goes dark to mark World Earth Day on Saturday (April 22, 2023). It was one of three main gates during the Joseon era, used to greet important foreign visitors and keep invaders and dangerous animals out. (Yonhap)
SEOUL – About 60 percent of South Koreans in their 20s and 30s said unification with North Korea is not necessary, a survey showed Sunday, amid a prolonged impasse in inter-Korean relations and denuclearization talks.
The survey, commissioned by a civic media group called Barun Media Citizen Action, found that 61 percent of people in their 20s and 30s say Korean reunification is "not absolutely necessary."
In comparison, 24 percent of them say unification with North Korea is "absolutely necessary."
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 percent of them have unfavorable views of China and 88 percent have unfavorable views of North Korea.
In contrast, 67 percent have favorable views of the United States and 63 percent have favorable views of Japan.
The poll, conducted by pollster KOPRA from April 13-18, had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. (Yonhap)
