[Photo] 48% of S. Koreans support S. Korea withdrawing from GSOMIA

Minister of National Defense Han Min-koo (right) and Japanese Ambassador to South Korea Yasumasa Nagamine sign the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) on Nov. 23, 2016. The Ministry refused to allow news photographer to photograph the signing ceremony, then belatedly provided a photo after the ceremony. (provided by the Ministry of National Defense)

Amid the ongoing diplomatic and trade dispute between South Korea and Japan, an opinion poll conducted by Realmeter has revealed that 47.7% of South Koreans support the country’s withdrawal from an intelligence-sharing agreement with Japan (23.8% strongly supported withdrawal, and 23.9% leaned toward supporting), known as the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA). Conversely, 39.3% of respondents opposed the withdrawal (19.5% were strongly opposed, and 19.8% leaned toward opposition), while 13% said they did not know or had no response. A majority of people siding with liberals or the Democratic Party expressed approval, while conservatives and supporters of the Liberty Korea Party tended toward opposition.