Generation and Ideology Factors of Evaluation on North Korea and Security Policy (2018.06)
2018.06.30
- Authors : Jin Seok Bae
- Journal : Korea and World Politics
- Publisher : The Institute for Far Eastern Studies
- Volume : 34(2)
- Publication Date : June, 2018
- Abstract : This study presented the following three hypotheses to analyze the mechanism of generation and ideology factors in North Korea policy and security policy area. First, the assessment of North Korea and its security policy does not change simply linearly according to age. Second, the influence of ideology on North Korea and security policy varies from generation to generation. Third, depending on how the policies are combined, the conditions under which the generation and ideology can exert influence vary. Based on the results of the survey conducted in 2017, this study found the following. First, even after controlling for other factors, the generation born in the 1970s favored the engagement policy toward North Korea than their predecessor or later generations, and they were less supportive of THAAD deployment. Second, ideology influenced policy evaluation toward North Korea in the older generation, but it did not in the younger generation. Third, only ideology variable exerted influence in traditional progressive-conservative policy combinations, age variable was not effective. However, age effect was confirmed instead of ideology when the traditional progressive-conservative policy combinations were staggered. The empirical finding of this study is evidence that the politicized structure of Korea, which is ideologically polarized, is cross-cut at a gentle angle along the generation cleavage.