South Korean Public Attitudes toward Global Nuclear Disarmament

• In Event: Nuclear Politics, Experimental Research, and the Korean Peninsula

Abstract

South Korea is one of the countries in the world that heavily relies on nuclear deterrence because of nuclear threats from its neighbor, North Korea. What are the South Korean public’s attitudes toward global nuclear disarmament? This question has received limited attention in the literature, primarily due to the South Korean public’s strong preference for the development of indigenous nuclear weapons. This paper delves into the South Korean public’s perspectives on global nuclear disarmament, with a specific focus on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). Specifically, this paper investigates how cues on the costs and benefits of joining global nuclear disarmament change public attitudes toward the TPNW using a survey experiment. This research offers valuable insights into the dynamics shaping the South Korean public’s overall nuclear preferences, shedding light on new policy paths for the country.

Author

• Jiyoung Ko, Korea University