South Koreans Take a Reality Check Ahead of Summit With North

New generation hopes tensions ease—and frets about unification—as President Moon meets Kim Jong Un

SEOUL—As President Moon Jae-in of South Korea heads into talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Friday, expectations here of lasting progress are decidedly modest.

After years of disappointments and failed negotiations, a harder attitude prevails: One of the main goals now, for South Korea’s government and its people, is simply a lowering of tensions following a year of brinkmanship.

Unification...