Young People 'Would Run if N.Korea Attacks'

Viewers look at posters of the film "Northern Limit Line" at a theater in Seoul on Wednesday.

Advertisement

Four out of 10 Seoul residents would simply flee to another country if another war breaks out on the Korean peninsula, a poll suggests. Also, more than 60 percent of Seoul residents said they have no idea what the instructions are in the event of a war.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government surveyed 3,039 residents earlier this month and found that 36.2 percent would escape to a safer place, while 5.6 percent said they would leave Korea. Only 11.6 percent said they want to take up arms to defend the country, and the remainder would be willing to give the military some auxiliary support

Responses varied according to age group. Among teens, 63.7 percent said they would flee, and so would 60.2 percent among people in their 20. Only 9.1 percent of teens and 13.1 percent of 20-somethings said they would head to the battlefield.

People in their 50s or older were made of sterner stuff or more conservative disposition with 73.8 percent saying they would help the forces directly or indirectly

The survey shows Seoul residents were poorly equipped for an emergency. Only 34.4 percent said they have a rough idea of what steps they need to take in the event of a war, and only four percent said they knew exactly.

The remaining 60 percent said they vaguely recall the manual or are completely unaware.