Two-thirds of South Koreans want their own nuclear weapons

Nearly two-thirds of South Koreans believe the country should develop its own nuclear weapons, according to a Gallup Korea poll, reflecting strong public support for an independent nuclear deterrent, Kyodo News reports.

The survey found that 65% of respondents backed South Korea possessing nuclear weapons independently, while 30% opposed the idea.

Support varied by political affiliation, reaching 78% among supporters of the main opposition People Power Party and 60% among supporters of the ruling Democratic Party.

The poll also found that 39% of respondents believed North Korea could launch a war, while 55% said they did not consider such a scenario likely.

Notably, even among those who saw no immediate risk of war from North Korea, 58% supported South Korea developing its own nuclear arsenal.

Gallup Korea said the findings indicate that a significant share of South Koreans may regard nuclear weapons primarily as a means of strategic deterrence and self-defence rather than weapons intended for actual use.

The survey also examined public views on the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) of South Korean forces from the United States. Some 46% said the transfer should be completed during President Lee Jae Myung’s current term, which ends in 2030, while 41% favored postponing it.

Lee has pledged to secure the transfer of wartime operational control from Washington before the end of his presidency.

The survey was conducted among 1,001 South Koreans aged 18 and older from August 25 to 27. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.

By Vafa Guliyeva