Korean college students seem to have quite different viewpoints on North Korea compared to Ambassador Vershbow’s remark of calling North Korea a ‘Criminal Regime.’



1,056 college students in Seoul were surveyed by Heungsandan, Korea Youth Academy, from November 11-14, and the survey result are shown below.
68.6% of respondents hoped for the unification of two Koreas; on the question of North Korea being a threat, 31% responded that North Korea is a threat while 54.2% responded that North Korea is a target for negotiation and cooperation; 51% responded that the ROK’s policy in providing aid to North Korea and the Sunshine Policy contributed to changes being made in North Korea and is establishing a peaceful atmosphere on the Korean Peninsula.

50.9% responded that the U.S. is the biggest obstacle for the unification and 49.7% responded that U.S.’ hostile policy towards North Korea is causing the North Korean nuclear problems while only 22% of students blamed North Korea for the current nuclear issues.

52.9% of surveyed students said that U.S.’ GPR may threaten the peace in the Northeast Asian region and 58% of students responded that the wartime OPCON should be transferred back to the ROK forces.
However, 61% of students showed a contradicting attitude by saying US forces in Korea are ‘needed.’