▲ A National Unification Advisory Council poll released on June 12, 2026, finds 36.8 percent of the 1,200 respondents favor peaceful coexistence for now with unification as a longer-term goal, in this image provided by NUAC. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

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Half of S. Korea's young adults view N. Korea with hostility: poll

SEOUL, June 12 (Yonhap) -- Nearly half of South Korans in their 20s and 30s view North Korea as a hostile state, more than double the share of those who see it as a partner for cooperation, a survey showed Friday.

The poll, commissioned by the National Unification Advisory Council (NUAC) and conducted by Korea Research from May 27 to June 1, surveyed 1,200 respondents aged 19-39.

It showed 49.8 percent of respondents considered North Korea as hostile, while 32.4 percent took a neutral position and 17.8 percent disagreed.

On cooperation, only 27.3 percent viewed the North as a potential partner, against 42.7 percent who did not.

A separate survey of all age groups conducted in the first quarter found 41.9 percent viewed North Korea as a subject of cooperation or support, suggesting younger Koreans hold a markedly harder line against North Korea.

On the question of where inter-Korean relations should head, 36.8 percent favored peaceful coexistence for now, while keeping unification as a longer-term goal.

Another 20.3 percent supported maintaining two separate states before eventually pursuing unification, while 19.4 percent preferred permanent separation. Only 11.8 percent backed the active pursuit of unification.

Awareness of the Lee Jae Myung government's peaceful coexistence policy remains shallow. Just over 39 percent said they were familiar with it, while the remaining 60.8 percent had either heard of it only in passing or not at all.

The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.83 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.

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