Just few words from an average Korean.
Although the threat of invasion is a topic recurring discussion from time to time for us, I have to be honest that it just doesn't feel real and I believe that this goes out to several other fellow Koreans. Of course, as we are in the center stage of the conflict with North Korea, we do express worries and possible devastations at least on the border city. But it is mostly talk and not really a panic-inducing apprehension.
As for why we have a capital so close to the border is because it has been the capital before the division as early as the rise of Joseon dynasty (1392). Back then, the location was a prime site for a capital city thanks to a vast plain next to the wide Han-river flowing through it, and the comparatively centralized location in the Korean peninsula. We Koreans can be very stubborn, prideful (not necessarily the good kind), and resistant to change. (For example, many Koreans had been proud of the single ethnicity throughout the whole nation, and still interracial marriage are not "encouraged" even between Asians if they are not actually Korean.) Seoul (previously known as Hanyang) has been our capital for centuries and it stayed that way. The relocation of capital has been brought up and discussed intensely many times primarily due to overcentralization of population and the geographical vulnerability as well as the overall long distance from many regions, but no concrete decision to change has been made.
As for unification, I would agree it was a decade ago. Our northern cousins have walked down the way to hell for way too long. It would be nice if everything just worked out great and the people of Korean peninsula united again, but the expected economic and social backlashes are too severe for us. Of course, following decades or even centuries issues will probably settle, but things aren't that great currently for us in the south either. The whole country is getting exploited by the big corporates such as Samsung, LG, and Hyundai. The big businesses are rolling with money while the small and mid-sized business are struggling among each other to barely survive. By bringing the North Koreans in this picture, it is without saying that all sorts of social and economic issues will arise. It is selfish, but we already got our own problems at hand, and unification is just not what we need/want for many of us.
Anything could actually happen. I mean, who knows what really goes in their minds. But as long as the North Korean leadership has even the slightest amount of brain cells left, there won't be any war started from their side. At least that's what I hope because I would rather not die in a war with more loss than gain and that will last at most few days but with huge collateral damage. (Conscripted reservist anyone? :/ )
