"7 out of 10 Citizens Say 'Medical Support Should Be Provided to North Korea'"

Gallup "Most Respondents Favor 'Providing Medical Support' in Respondent Characteristics"
As of the 20th, Cumulative Fever Patients in North Korea Exceed 2.24 Million

According to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the 19th, military medical personnel dispatched to the North Korean capital to control the health crisis are actively striving to ensure that the "precious medicines of loving care reach the citizens more quickly and accurately." [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] A public opinion survey released on the 20th showed that more than 7 out of 10 people believe that medical support should be provided to North Korea, where COVID-19 is currently spreading. In North Korea, the cumulative number of suspected COVID-19 fever cases has exceeded 2 million, indicating that the pandemic continues.

According to a survey conducted by Gallup Korea from the 17th to the 19th among 1,000 people aged 18 and older nationwide, 72% responded that medical support should be provided, while 22% said it should not. The remaining 6% withheld their opinion.

Gallup Korea explained, "Most respondents across various characteristics favored 'providing medical support,' and opinions were consistent among supporters of both ruling and opposition parties as well as across political orientations." However, "opinions were evenly split among those in their 20s (ages 18-29)."

Regarding the possible timing of Korean reunification, 57% responded that it should be achieved gradually in about 10 years, which was the most common answer. Responses of 'should happen quickly' and 'better not to unify' each accounted for 19%. Five percent of respondents withheld their opinion. By age group, older generations tended to favor 'should happen quickly,' while younger generations relatively favored 'better not to unify.'

The margin of error for this survey is ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. It was conducted via telephone interviews with 90% mobile and 10% landline calls, and the response rate was 11.3%. For more details, refer to the website of the Central Election Survey Deliberation Commission.

Meanwhile, according to the Korean Central News Agency on the same day, North Korea's National Emergency Anti-epidemic Command announced that the number of fever patients nationwide from the end of last month until the afternoon of the previous day was approximately 2,241,610. This is eight days since North Korea publicly acknowledged the occurrence of COVID-19 on the 12th.