How many South Koreans support nuclear armament in the Gallup Korea poll?

Sixty-five percent said South Korea should possess nuclear weapons independently, while 30 percent opposed the idea. Support was 78 percent among People Power Party supporters and 60 percent among Democratic Party of Korea supporters.

Why did Gallup say many respondents support South Korea having its own nuclear weapons?

Gallup said the finding suggests many respondents may see nuclear weapons as a strategic or self-defensive deterrent rather than as weapons for actual use. That view was reflected even among people who said North Korea did not pose a war risk.

What did the poll say about wartime operational control transfer under President Lee Jae Myung?

Forty-six percent said wartime operational control should be transferred during Lee Jae Myung’s term, which ends in 2030, while 41 percent said it should be postponed. Lee has vowed to regain OPCON from the United States before his term ends.

65% of S. Koreans support nuclear armament: poll

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Summary

A Gallup Korea poll showed Friday that 65 percent of South Koreans support South Korea possessing nuclear weapons independently, while 30 percent oppose it. The survey of 1,001 adults was conducted from Tuesday to Thursday. Support was 78 percent among People Power Party supporters and 60 percent among Democratic Party of Korea supporters. On wartime operational control, 46 percent wanted the transfer completed during President Lee Jae Myung’s term, while 41 percent wanted it postponed.

Key Facts

The poll surveyed 1,001 South Koreans aged 18 and older from Tuesday to Thursday.
The margin of error was plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.
Thirty-nine percent of respondents said they believe North Korea could actually start a war, while 55 percent said they did not believe it posed such a risk.
Among those who said there was no risk, 58 percent still supported South Korea possessing its own nuclear weapons.
Gallup said the result suggests many respondents may view nuclear weapons as a strategic or self-defensive deterrent rather than as weapons for actual use.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 28, 2026 3:05 pm KST

Apache helicopters sit at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Aug. 21. Yonhap

Nearly two-thirds of South Koreans support the idea of their country having its own nuclear weapons, a poll showed Friday.

According to the Gallup Korea poll, 65 percent agreed that South Korea should possess nuclear weapons independently, while 30 percent opposed the idea.

The survey was conducted on 1,001 South Koreans aged 18 and older from Tuesday to Thursday.

By political affiliation, the figure stood at 78 percent among supporters of the main opposition People Power Party and 60 percent among supporters of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea.

Thirty-nine percent of respondents said they believe North Korea could actually start a war, while 55 percent said they did not believe the North posed such a risk.

Among those who said there was no risk, 58 percent still supported the idea of South Korea possessing its own nuclear weapons.

Gallup said the finding suggests that a significant number of respondents may view nuclear weapons more as a strategic or self-defensive deterrent than as weapons for actual use.

On the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) of troops from Washington, 46 percent replied it should be completed during President Lee Jae Myung's term that ends in 2030, while 41 percent said the transfer should be postponed.

Lee has vowed to regain OPCON from the U.S. before his term ends.

The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.

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