Photo by Shim Hyun-chul

• ●Millennials, Gen Z view North Korea as a poor, needy neighbor.

• ●Unlike older South Koreans, the younger generation is lukewarm about unification.   

Recent public opinion surveys found that North Korea is a flash point that drives a rift between South Korea’s young and old generations.

Unlike their parents and grandparents, younger Koreans are not eager to see their homeland reunited and some are even skeptical about spending taxpayer money to achieve that goal.

According to a survey of 1,000 Koreans between the ages of 18 and 39 by Kookmin Ilbo Daily-Global Research from June 9 to 12, 54.2 percent said they do not support the unification of the two Koreas. People in that age group are called “MZ,” which stands for millennials and Generation Z.

Three out of every 10 people said North Korea is a foreign country that is irrelevant to the South, while 19.7 percent perceived it simply as a neighboring country.

When asked to name a country they dislike, China was at the top of the list at 51.7 percent, followed by Japan (31.2 percent) and North Korea (12.6 percent).

Another recent poll taken by Seoul Daily, July 12 to 14, showed similar findings. According to that survey, men in their 20s, in particular, are very negative about unification.

In a joint Seoul Daily-Hyundai Research survey of 1,208 people aged 18 or older, 66 percent were found to support the unification of the two Koreas.

But among those aged 18 to 29, the majority was against unification. Nearly 54 percent said they do not feel that unification is necessary, which was about 10 percent higher than those who support it.

The survey had a plus/minus 2.8 percent margin of error.

Yoo Ho-yeol, a North Korea specialist and professor emeritus of political science at Korea University, said the widespread apathy toward North Korea and unification among younger South Koreans is not surprising.

“It’s no wonder that North Korea is not popular among younger South Koreans,” he told Korea Here & Now in a telephone interview. “North Korea is an isolated country that has been ruled by dictators for three generations. For younger South Koreans who were born and raised in a free democracy and have traveled freely to foreign countries, a place like North Korea is hardly appealing.”

Unlike the older generations who have memories of North Korea – particularly those who migrated to the South during the Korean War or interacted with North Koreans who settled in the South – many people in their 20s have few comparable experiences, Professor Yoo said.

“Some are critical of North Korea and some are even antagonistic toward it,” he added.

The apathy felt by younger South Koreans toward North Korea is a stumbling block to the South Korean government’s efforts to build peace and pave the way for unification.

“I think policymakers need to adopt a new approach to educate younger South Koreans regarding the need for unification,” said Professor Yoo. “Not only the younger generations but also some older people harbor a sort of resentment toward North Korea. Despite the shared resentment, their reasons for having negative perceptions of North Korea are different. This explains why we need tailor-made unification education for the younger generation.”

**If you have any questions about this article, feel free to contact us at kocis@korea.kr.**