Comparative Study on the Korean University Students’ North Korean Policy and Perception: With Primary Focus on the Periods of Lee Myung Bak and Roh Moo Hyun Regimes

Abstract

This research analyzes university students’ perception of North Korea and North Korean policies of the government. In detail, it assumes that Korean citizens hold a dualistic understanding of North Korea; it also focuses on the lack of such assessment in the past and current Korean regimes. Surveying university students who enroll in politics courses, the goal of this study is to articulate future directions based upon the degree of current perception and attitudes toward North Korean policies and North Korea itself. This study uses the questions that were originally used in 2007, under Roh, Moo Hyun regime, to survey university students and compare the results. The results show that our university students still perceive North Korea as a threatening entity, and general perception of North Korean society are negative as well. Of future North Korean changes, the view that they will choose regime-maintaining pragmatic interests over revolution or openness is prevalent. University students consider the most important tasks of North Korean policies to be military ease, establishment of trust, social and cultural exchange, and economic cooperation. Along with political issues, social, cultural, and economic exchange is considered an equal task in improving North-South relations. However, as under Roh, Moo Hyun regime, the assessment of North Korean policies is surveiyed to be mostly lackluster. This calls for North Korean policies that are widely supported by the populace from the government, and requires government-level efforts and initiative.