4 among 5 South Koreans favor reunification with DPRK

Four among five South Koreans favored reunification with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) despite lower desire for the unified Korea among young people, a poll showed Tuesday. According to a survey of 814 adults and 105 experts on security and foreign affairs by the Hyundai Research Institute, 78 percent of South Korean citizens shared views over the need to reunify with the DPRK, its north neighboring country. The figure for experts who favored the reunification reached a whopping 98.1 percent, according to the survey conducted between Oct. 23 and Nov. 4. The poll indicated that preferences for reunification became lower among younger people. More than 80 percent of those in their 40s and 50s favored reunification, but the figure was lowered to 74.9 percent in their 30s and 66.8 percent in their 20s. South Korean President Park Geun-hye vowed on Monday to build up foundations for peaceful reunification with the DPRK within her five-year presidency, saying that Seoul will continue to push for the Korean Peninsula trust-building process based on firm principles and patience.