This panel aims to analyze and compare perspectives and attitudes of South and North Korean residents on issues related to unification, North Korea’s nuclear program, relations with neighboring countries, and views toward the people and society of the other Korea. The analysis draws on survey data from the Institute for Peace and Unification Studies (IPUS) at Seoul National University.
The primary data sources include two significant surveys: the "Unification Awareness Survey," conducted annually since 2007, and the "North Korean Defectors’ Perception Survey," conducted from 2012 to 2020. The Unification Awareness Survey tracks South Korean public opinion on unification, North Korea, international relations, and North Korean defectors, collecting responses from a nationally representative sample of 1,200 South Korean adults across 17 provinces. The North Korean Defectors’ Perception Survey, meanwhile, focuses on the perspectives of 100 North Korean defectors each year who left North Korea the year before the survey, capturing their views during their time in North Korea.
Through this comparative analysis, the panel will explore key features of mutual perceptions between North and South Korean residents, examining inter-Korean differences and identifying any changes over time. The discussion will highlight similarities and differences in public sentiment across generations, analyze the factors shaping and transforming these attitudes, and assess the broader implications for inter-Korean relations. By situating these findings within the context of evolving public perceptions, this session aims to provide deeper insights into factors that could shape the future trajectory of inter-Korean relations.
