Generation divide over unification deepens

By Jun Ji-hye

The divide over the question of unification has deepened, typified by how the younger generation is ignoring how the arbitrary partitioning of the nation following the Korean War became a permanent legacy.

The lyrics of an old song “Our wish is to be reunified,” in many ways embodied the collective desire for unification after the 1945 partitioning.

But this longing sentiment does not seem to resonate with young Koreans who have become apathetic about the whole idea. Youngsters have simply become indifferent to unification.

“South and North have become too different in such areas as politics and languages, so I think there will be continuing conflicts in Korea even after unification,” said Yoon Je-hyeon, 16, a freshman of Dongducheon Foreign Language High School.

She honestly doesn’t want unification. “Frankly speaking, I don’t think South Korea can benefit from unification because we are richer than the North,” she said.

Yi Min-kyoung, 29, a geography instructor at a private institute in Seoul, also holds the same skeptical view on the issue.

“I don’t think unification has to be realized because everything is all right now,” she said.

“If I think about human rights of the North Korean people or national defense expenditure, I sometimes think unification is needed. But at the same time, I think it is impossible because integrating political systems is an extremely hard task.”

In contrast to the two youngsters, a 66-year-old housewife Ahn Eun-ok said Korea needs to be unified.

“I don’t want my daughters and sons to live in a divided country,” she said. “If Korea is unified, our territory will expand. Also we will be able to save money spent for national defense.”

Ahn’s views on the widening differences between the two Koreas are different from those of Yoon.

“We have the same ethnic roots. We speak the same language as well. Although our economic levels are different, we will be able to overcome such differences,” she said.

A recent survey of 1,000 people conducted by The Korea Times on the occasion of its 62nd anniversary which fell on Nov. 1 clearly showed the generational divide over unification.

Only 18 percent of those between 19-29 years old, and 27.1 percent of those in their 30s, felt unification was a must. The numbers compared to 41.4 percent of those in their 50s and 50.2 percent of those in their 60s who felt the same way.

A similar trend was shown in the results of research announced in September by Seoul National University’s Institute for Peace and Unification Studies.

Those in their 50s, the oldest group surveyed, came in at 63.5 percent, marking the highest rate in favor of unification.

The figure decreased as the generation becomes younger: 63.2 percent for 40s and 51.4 percent for 30s. People in their 20s showed the lowest support for unification, standing at 46.7 percent.

The trend is apparent among teenagers too. Only 20 percent support the need for unification in 2010, a decrease from 40 percent in 2007 and 2008, according to a survey of middle and high school students conducted by the National Youth Policy Institute.

Experts assess this as a natural trend that could happen as time goes on, but say that a lack of education in schools could be blamed.

“The education system in middle and high schools is only focused on college entrance exams and the matter of unification is not emphasized in those schoolbooks,” said Park Young-ho, an analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification.

“People here have become unaware of the territorial division unless they experience such incidents as North Korea’s artillery shelling of Yeonpyeong Island or the sinking of the Cheonan ship. They have just lived their daily lives here.”

However, Park claims Korea can actually benefit from unification.

“First, the huge money spent for the national defense can be saved and it can be invested in different areas. The plan on the trans-Siberian railway can be achieved as well, which will be a great help for Korea’s economy,” he said.

“On the diplomatic front, Korea could improve its diplomatic disadvantage that comes from the vulnerability of the division on the occasion of negotiations with such counties as China,” he said. “Also psychologically, people will not need to feel tensed anymore.”

The analyst called for an effective system to disseminate information about the North and unification.

“New information delivery system, for example by smart phones, is needed to meet youngster’s taste. If Psy sings a song regarding unification, it will become the talk of town,” he said.

“Schools need to specifically teach students about the positive effects of unification, rather than simply saying unification is needed.”

A 21-year-old Yang, who is studying at Kookmin University, is desperately waiting for unification between the two Koreas, since he left his parents and friends in the North following his 2002 defection.

“I think of unification everyday and sincerely look forward to it. I miss my parents and friends. I am aware of young people here losing interests in unification and some worrying about the cost of unification, but I hope somebody could change this perception.”