By Yoo Seungki
SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Public opinion in South Korea shows signs of division as the scandal-hit President Park Geun-hye pushes for a bilateral military pact with Japan to directly exchange intelligence on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
A survey by Gallup Korea, a local pollster, showed 59 percent opposing it as they believe Seoul should refrain from strengthening military cooperation with Tokyo unrepentant of its brutalities during World War II. The Korean Peninsula was colonized by the Imperial Japan from 1910 to 1945.
In contrast, 31 percent responded positively to the deal on a foggy notion that more and more intelligence, even from the unrepentant Japan, would help defend their country better from "growing nuclear and missile threats" from Pyongyang.
Public fury here over the former colonial ruler is deeply rooted as seen in the opposition from almost two-thirds of respondents. Former President Lee Myung-bak pushed the hush-hush deal with Japan in 2012, but it was scrapped at the last minutes on public outcry.
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