Nearly nine out of 10 South Koreans distrust domestic politics and politicians, a poll showed Sunday, illustrating a growing sense of crisis among rival political parties.

According to a poll of 1,018 adults and 730 youths by the Office of the Minister of Special Affairs, 87.1 percent of adults and 85.6 percent of adolescents said they “do not have confidence in politics and politicians.”

The poll of South Koreans’ values also showed people in their 40s are most skeptical about politics, with 91.6 percent of those in that age group expressing distrust toward politicians.

About 91 percent of respondents in their 30s expressed a lack of confidence while 87.6 percent of those aged 50-59 were skeptical about the political system.

Younger members of society in the 10-29 age group had relatively mild distrust, with about 85 percent of them expressing skepticism toward politics. Most senior citizens over 60 were the least skeptical, with just under 80 percent expressing a lack of confidence.

In terms of the country’s unification policy and its relations with North Korea, younger people were less accommodative than their elder peers, the poll also showed. 

(Yonhap News)