Public unification support in South Korea fell to a record low of 49 percent, dropping below a majority for the first time since 2014. The Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) released its annual survey on Monday, highlighting rising indifference toward North Korea and inter-Korean relations.
KINU conducted face-to-face interviews with 1,000 adults nationwide between July 10 and August 13, 2025. Only 49 percent said unification is necessary, down from 52.8 percent in 2024. The institute noted the decline spans all age groups and signals structural changes in public opinion.
Additionally, 63.2 percent said unification is unnecessary as long as the two Koreas coexist peacefully. This marks the highest level since KINU introduced the question in 2016. Public indifference toward North Korea also reached 68.1 percent, rising sharply from 50.8 percent in 2015.
Opposition to humanitarian aid for North Korea increased. This year, 39.5 percent opposed aid, exceeding support for the first time since 2017. KINU said fewer reports of North Korean food shortages contributed to the shift.
Views on reopening the Kaesong industrial park showed growing resistance. Forty-four point six percent opposed reopening, up from 24.6 percent in 2021. Support differed by political affiliation: 49.1 percent of Democratic Party supporters favored it, while only 26.1 percent of People Power Party supporters did. KINU warned that reopening could spark partisan conflict.
Experts say declining unification support reflects domestic politics and prolonged inter-Korean disengagement. KINU stressed that these trends indicate a long-term shift rather than temporary changes.
The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level. Analysts expect declining unification support to influence future policies and reduce public pressure on government engagement with North Korea.
Unification support now serves as a key barometer of South Korea’s evolving view of North Korea and its policy priorities.
