[US nuclear bomb experimentation cite. Photo Credit to Free-Images]

President Yoon's recent statement that South Korea may develop or request a nuclear arsenal fueled intense debates about the country's nuclearization. 

At January’s New Year's Convention of the Ministry of National Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Yoon stated that South Korea must develop defense weaponry in response to aggressive North Korean military activities. ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ 

"Military retaliation is the key to suppressing North Korean provocations," he said. 

President Yoon further outlined Korea's future military developments. 

He emphasized that the developments of the 3-Axis System and the Response System are indispensable to South Korea’s national security. 

While discussing the Response System in detail, President Yoon alluded to the possibility of Korea's nuclearization.  

"If the situation worsens, we may necessarily develop nuclear arsenals ourselves or request the United States for nuclear weapon armaments," he noted.

Yoon's message shocked the entire nation. 

No South Korean president has officially proposed nuclearization since 1991 due to national and international tensions.

Accordingly, the president's message reignited the long-forgotten debates over the nuclearization of South Korea. 

Proponents of South Korea's nuclearization argue that nuclear weapons ensure the country's protection from its surrounding nations.

South Korea neighbors three nations with nuclear weapons: China, Russia, and North Korea. 

Nuclearization proponents posit that nuclearization minimizes risks of nuclear attacks by promoting political brinkmanship. 

Proponents also claim that South Korea's nuclear armament may promote peace in the area as it would deter enemies against invasions and nuclear bomb destructions.

They further claim that nuclear weapon deployment may improve South Korea’s self-reliance on its own defense system. 

South Korea currently depends heavily on the United States for military support. 

Nuclearization may reduce Korea's dependence on the U.S. by strengthening Korea's defense capabilities of its own.

On the other hand, opponents argue that nuclear armament would damage South Korea's international reputation and credibility. 

South Korea currently approves of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), an international agreement to ban nuclear armament. 

This is equivalent to vowing against nuclearization. 

Hence, developing nuclear weapons would violate this treaty and mar South Korea's international reputation.

Opponents also argue that South Korea's nuclearization would provoke North Korea. 

They point out that North Korea's nuclear program was partly motivated by its perception of the U.S. and South Korea as hostile and threatening, and that South Korea's nuclearization would only reinforce that perception and justify North Korea's nuclear ambitions. 

The issue of South Korea's nuclearization is complex and involves various political, ethical, and legal factors. 

It is unlikely that there will be a consensus on this matter anytime soon due to the hazardous nature of the topic.

However, it is important that the public and the policymakers engage in a rational and informed debate, considering the implications and consequences of their choices for the future of the region and the world.