More than half of South Koreans believe that China has the greatest influence on whether unification of the Korean peninsula can take place, a poll released by a South Korean consultative body to the presidency showed on Monday.

The National Unification Advisory Council (NUAC) surveyed 1000 South Koreans aged 19 and above over mobile phone and landline, as well as 100 South Korean experts in the field of North Korean studies and unification via email, in March.

52.1 percent of regular South Koreans surveyed and 61 percent of opinion leaders agreed that China has the most influence on prospects for