I think we need more clarification of the OP poster about his familiarity with Korea, its people and their current collective state of mind. There are many people of Korean origin or part Korean origin, who grew up in the US and cannot even speak Korean or want to have nothing to do with Korea. So without knowing these details, it is hard to take this viewpoint seriously.
This is what I have heard from a Korean who have lived almost entire life in Korea:
- Shilla the old kingdom that allied with Tang to destroy Baekje and Goguryeo, is the Southeastern part of Korea, near Busan and Kyongju, this is where Park Chung Hee comes from and Lee Myung Bak is also from there, if I am not mistaken, and so is his political party that is currently ruling. Apparently these same people have sided with the Japanese and contributed to the fall of Joseon, which made Korea a colony for Japan for 35 years. This same party also allied with the US after the Korean war and wants to extend and continue US influence. Because they carry over from the Japanese colonial days, who made money in that period, it includes most of the wealthy 1% elite and chaebol owners
- the opposition is late Kim Dae Jung's party, who is from the South western Jeolla do (Kwangju, Mokpo etc.) and this is part of the old Baekje country, also connected with Japaese Yamato aristocracy and royal family. This area rebelled under earlier military rule and are the torch bearer of the people power politics in Korea. Because of the recent FTA fiasco with the US, they have gained popularity. They are the ones that started the Sunshine policy and although it has been ended, they do not want a war or harsh measure with North Korea.
As far as I can tell, most, I would say 90% or more South Koreans do not want a war. It is possible that the current ruling party will loose the next election, the opposition will come to power and they will initiate a new version of the Sunshine policy, perhaps continue the current initiative for a Korean economic community. And this party, which represent majority Korean opinion, do not want to increase or extend US influence in the Korean peninsula, but they do not know how to replace the US influence, as yet. So there is confusion and searching of ways on how to get this done. They know that foreign influence is bad for their future. But they will under no circumstances replace the US with Chinese, by going back under Chinese umbrella again. They have had enough of that in the last 1400 years, after the alliance of Tang and Shilla, which led to the fall of both Goguryeo and Baekje.
