Description:
A survey of South Koreans showed this week that fewer people than ever consider reunification with North Korea to be necessary. According to the poll of 1,200 adults by Seoul National University’s Institute for Peace and Unification Studies, less than 45% replied that reunification is needed. That is the lowest portion since they started this survey in 2007! And we are seeing this public opinion shift reflected ahead of the next presidential election.
Transcription:
A survey of South Koreans showed this week, that fewer people than ever consider reunification with North Korea to be necessary. According to the poll of1, 200 adults by Seoul national University's Institute for Peace and Unification studies, less than 45 replied that reunification is needed. The lowest portion since they started the survey in 2007.
Alex Jensen: And standing here in Seoul, noticing the global influence the prosperity. Pyongyang does feel a world away.
The division of the Koreas was one of the great 20th century tragedies. Leading not only to war and the millions of deaths that accompanied it. But also to families being forced apart, never to see each other again. More than seven decades on from the outbreak of the Korean War, and time is very much running out. For now, elderly separated relatives to be reunited and as their memories fade. So too the hopes of the careers themselves ever being reunified. The institute I mentioned before cited a few factors to explain why fewer people support that outcome, including the North's demolition of the inter-Korean liaison office last year and the breakdown of dialogue.
Alex Jense: Though the political goal remains alive.
With North Korea finally resuming contact via those inter-Korean hotlines recently. There may be cause for some optimism again. At least that we might see a return to higher level talks. President Moon Jae-in said this week that the Koreas should work together for joint prosperity, ahead of eventual reunification. Moon still hopes to leave a peace legacy during his last few months in office. But recent missile tests by both sides also signal the possibility of a less promising future. And ahead of the next presidential election, public opinion seems to be influencing platforms. The right appears to be less committed to reunification plans. While even on the left, front runner Ej Myung has spoken of a peace economy on the peninsula .But has also conceded common ethnicity no longer justifies joining the careers as one nation.
Alex Jense: This all marks a shift from years of political leaders making reunification the ultimate goal in Seoul's policy towards North Korea.
It's understandable, that pragmatism would start to become more powerful at this point. How would reunification possibly work politically given the lack of lasting trust between Seoul and Pyongyang? The prospect of economic unity is also seriously hampered by sanctions targeting North Korea's nuclear weapon ambitions. But if there is a way, despite North Korea's well-documented poverty.
Goldman Sachs previously reported that a united Korean economy, could overshadow Japan or Germany if allowed to prosper over 30 to 40 years. The basis for that would be, North Korean raw materials and a cheaper workforce combining with South Korea's already massive economy. Yet, if we can't even get the joint industrial complex at Kaesong running again. It just feels like a dream and that's reflected in current public opinion.
Question:
1. Thoroughly, talk about a survey of South Koreans showed this week?
2. What tragedies occurred in 20th century?
3. How about you, would you consider reunification with the North?
