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A Chosun Ilbo survey of Koreans between 16 and 25 to mark 60 years since liberation from Japanese colonial rule finds the younger generation on the whole pragmatic and uninterested in ideology. The first survey of the generation born in the 1980 shows a marked contrast between their attitude and their parents¡¯ to the nation and the former colonial power.
The survey shows that the nation is a source of pride for the younger generation while the older generation associate it with toil and suffering.
The survey by Gallup Korea of 833 individuals born between 1980 and 1989 also found a marked shift in attitude to North Korea and the South¡¯s traditional ally, the U.S. Some 65.9 percent responded they would take North Korea's side if it was at war with the U.S., while 21.8 percent said South Korea must stand with the U.S. and the rest were undecided. But asked where they would like to live if they had to go abroad, not one cited the Stalinist country. Instead, 17.9 percent of respondents named Australia, 16.8 percent the U.S. and 15.3 percent Japan. Fourteen nations including equally uninviting Iraq and Iran did better than North Korea by attracting one respondent each.
Prof. Gang Won-taek of Soongsil University interpreted the results as showing that the young generation views North Korea as a struggling neighbor and relative rather than an enemy. He said young people¡¯s attitudes toward the North should be regarded as pragmatic nationalism and a rejection of ideology.
Japan was the younger generation's third favorite nation in which to live. Some 36 percent of the younger generation said they felt goodwill toward the former imperial power, while a Gallup poll in December found only 25.7 percent of over-50s with any goodwill toward Japan. In group interviews, most of the young respondents said that when they think of Japan, they think of video games or animated films.
The young were proud of their country¡¯s achievements, with 67.8 percent believing Korea was among the world¡¯s Top 10 developed nations or would join them over the next decade.
The survey was conducted on Aug. 3-4. The margin of error is 3.4 percent.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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