Irreconcilable Differences?

I've been wondering when this news would surface, now comes an article in the East Asia Forum asking whether young South Koreans feel much kinship with, or interest in North Korea and its people. Author Emma Campbell answers thus:

Survey data in South Korea consistently shows increased levels of antipathy and antagonism towards North Korea and unification. Young people who support unification do so with provisos that demand a net political and economic benefit for the South. They show little interest in the North. And growing numbers of young people actively and openly oppose unification.

As new generations of South Koreans become more antagonistic to unification, and further estranged from ideas of ethnic homogeneity and the history of a unified Korea, the South Korean identity will become more distinct and assertive. The implications for North and South Korea of this transformation will be profound indeed.

The costly and difficult experience wealthy Germany has had trying to assimilate East Germany has not been lost on South Koreans. Also relevant is the scenario, played out in many divorces, of two individuals "growing apart," which is to say, developing in different directions. As with individuals, so with nations. Hat tip to RealClearWorld for the link.