A sign for the Ministry of Unification at the government complex in Seoul. Yonhap

Less than half of South Korean students think unification with North Korea is necessary amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, a survey showed, Saturday.

In an online survey of 73,991 elementary, middle and high school students, conducted by the unification ministry and education ministry from Oct. 20 to Nov. 20, 2023, 49.8 percent replied that unification is necessary, while 38.9 percent said it is not needed. This is the first time that the rate of students supporting unification dropped below 50 percent since the survey began in 2014.

The two Koreas are still technically at war as the 1950-53 war ended in an armistice.

Among those opposed to the idea of unification, potential social problems following unification were the biggest reason for their objection at 28.6 percent, followed by economic burden at 27.9 percent.

Negative sentiment toward North Korea has become stronger in recent years.

The rate of respondents who perceive North Korea as a country that South Korea should cooperate with decreased to 32.1 percent in 2023 from 38.7 percent in 2022. Alternatively, students who view the North as an enemy of the state increased from 10.9 percent to 12.5 percent during the same period.

The rate of students who are not interested in unification increased for the fourth straight year from 20.2 percent in 2020 to 28.3 percent in 2023. Those who believe inter-Korean relations are not peaceful increased to 56 percent in 2023 from 55.7 percent in 2022.

“North Korea’s provocations have fueled students’ negative views of unification,” the unification ministry said. “Together with the education ministry, we will do our best to inform students about the need for unification and direction of unification policies.”