The size of the victory was as unexpected as the victory itself. The minority of South Koreans who told me last week that they thought pro-nuclear forces would win thought it would be by the thinnest of margins.

Sources close to the decision said that the nearly 500 citizens on the jury were polled four times before the final vote, and that support for the pro-nuclear position grew each time.

Moreover, the youth vote — citizen jurors in the 20s and 30s — changed their mind more than did older voters.

This is especially significant since young people were President Moon’s base of support in his electoral victory last May.