N. Korea experts support unification tax: poll

A majority of South Korean experts on inter-Korean ties believe the introduction of a "unification tax" is necessary to prepare for a unified Korea, a survey showed Wednesday.

They agreed that a reunification itself is in the interest of South Korea, but they were divided on an ideal format, according to the Hyundai Research Institute.

The think tank, affiliated with Hyundai Group, conducted the poll on 93 pundits from July 11-19. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.08 percentage points at a 95 percent level of confidence.

Among the respondents, 97.8 percent said reunification is needed and would be helpful to South Korea's national interest.

On the desirable type of unification, 44.1 percent said, "One nation and peaceful co-existence of two systems," while 30 percent said a complete reunification of the two Koreas is the only option.

Nearly 70 percent of them said reunification won't be possible within the next decade.

With regard to unification costs, 63.4 percent was in favor of introducing a unification tax.

In 2010, then-President Lee Myung-bak proposed a public debate on whether such a special tax is necessary. But relevant discussions have made little progress with the public opinion sharply split and inter-Korean relations soured.

The pundits, meanwhile, regarded the U.S. influence on the issue of reunifying the two Koreas as dwindling, while that of China is growing.

Asked to pick the most influential nation over the matter, 54.4 percent selected the United States, down from 63.2 percent in last year's poll. The ratio of those who chose China jumped from 36.8 percent to 45.6 percent.

Nearly half of those surveyed said the North may offer another round of family reunion events around the Aug. 15 Liberation Day.  (Yonhap)