SEOUL: Half of the citizens from eight countries believe that the unification of South and North Korea is necessary, with North Korea's abandonment of its nuclear weapons being a primary condition for such a unification, a recent survey revealed. According to Yonhap News Agency, the poll conducted by the Korea Institute for National Unification and Gallup Korea found that 50 percent of respondents support the reunification of the two Koreas, with 23 percent considering it a "must." The survey, conducted online from September to October, involved 9,000 individuals aged 18 or older from the United States, Japan, Germany, Vietnam, Poland, Britain, France, and Australia. This survey forms part of South Korea's initiative to gather international backing for its vision of a liberal democracy-based unification, as outlined by President Yoon Suk Yeol in August. It represents the first assessment of global citizens' perspectives on the potential unification of the Koreas, as stated by the unification ministry. The poll results were unveiled during a seminar focused on Korean unification and the international community, organized by the Korea Institute for National Unification. Notably, 30 percent of respondents opposed the necessity of unification, citing concerns over potential war or conflict during the unification process and the risk of economic and social chaos afterward. Approximately 40 percent of those surveyed viewed the possibility of Korean unification positively, while 46 percent remained skeptical. The skepticism primarily stems from perceived social and cultural differences between the two Koreas and the ongoing nuclear threat from North Korea. When it comes to the preferred political framework for unification, 48 percent of respondents advocated for a unification based on South Korea's free democracy. In contrast, 9 percent supported North Korea's socialism, while 15 percent believed that both Koreas should maintain their existing political systems. The survey highlighted that the most frequently ment ioned prerequisite for unification was North Korea's cessation of its nuclear weapons program, with the easing of the inter-Korean military standoff following closely. A significant 67 percent of respondents agreed that North Korea should abandon its nuclear ambitions, although 57 percent doubted the likelihood of this happening. Regarding the perceived threat of North Korea's nuclear development, 63 percent of respondents considered it to pose mild to grave threats, more than twice the 24 percent who viewed it as posing little to no threats. The poll's margin of error is plus or minus 1.02 percent, with a 95 percent confidence level.