Who supports unification?

Kang Miongsei

(miongsei@sejong.org)

Research Fellow, 

The Sejong Institute​ 

English Abstract

Based on 15 surveys conducted from 2003 to 2021, this study analyzes various factors affecting the need for unification and presents the following policy implications for unification. First, it is necessary to note that the general public's perception of the need for unification has greatly weakened in 2021 and to analyze the cause. Second, the public's perception of North Korea plays a key role in the need for unification. Therefore, if the government wants to pursue a policy aimed at unification, it should consider that the public's perception of North Korea as the most important variable. Consequently, the South Korean government needs to consider what direction it should induce the public to recognize North Korea as a target of cooperation and support from the people who are wary or hostile. Third, the need for unification is an issue that everyone can relate to beyond political views. The general public sympathizes with the need for unification, even if the parties they support are different. Fourth, the younger generation is more in favor of the need for unification than the older generation, and women are about 10 percentage points more in favor of men. Research is needed on why young people and women do not sympathize with the need for unification.