This study tries to examine how citizens perceive patriots and veterans in
Korea. Assuming that public respect for patriots and veterans is necessary for the
stability of a political community, the study examines what determines such a
public attitude. Utilizing a survey dataset culled recently, it shows that public
perception of patriots and veterans functions as various factors including
ideological interpretation of their contributions, their utility in dealing with the
antagonistic North Korea, and the coherence of their political orientation with
public desire for reunification of two Koreas. Based on these findings, the study
claims that developing both educational programs and public policies for lessening
ideological prejudice is necessary for culturing public respect for patriots and
veterans.