One out of two citizens said unification is not necessary.
According to the "KINU Unification Perception Survey 2025" released on the 20th by the Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU), 51% of respondents said unification is not necessary. This is the highest level since the survey began in 2014.
The institute interviewed 1,000 adults aged 18 or older nationwide from July 10 to Aug. 13 and obtained these results.
The share saying unification is necessary (49.0%) fell 3.8 percentage points from the previous year's survey. Since the survey began in 2014, this is the first time the share saying unification is not necessary has exceeded the share saying it is necessary. In particular, recognition of the need for unification declined across all generations.
The institute said, "It appears to be the result of a combination of factors, including the impact of North Korea's hostile 'two-state theory,' the ongoing severance of inter-Korean relations, and domestic political factors," and noted, "This suggests that perceptions of unification have entered a phase of structural change beyond short-term fluctuations."
Those who agreed with the statement, "If the two Koreas can coexist peacefully without war, unification is not necessary," came to 63.2%. This is the highest level since the question was included in the survey.