[The 1st Korea-Japan Public Perception Survey] Comparative Analysis Report of Korea and Japan

Survey Overview

The East Asia Institute (EAI) and Genron NPO, a certified NPO in Japan, conducted a survey on mutual perceptions of the Korean and Japanese publics from March to April 2013. The objective of this survey is to closely examine the current status and changes in the understanding and perceptions of the publics in both Korea and Japan towards each other, with the aim of resolving perceptual differences and promoting mutual understanding between the two nations. Furthermore, the results of this survey are scheduled to be announced at the Korea-Japan Civil Dialogue (The 1st Korea-Japan Future Dialogue), which will commence in May with the goal of improving Korea-Japan relations.

The survey in Korea targeted adult men and women aged 19 and above across the country and was conducted from March 25 to April 15 using an interviewing method by surveyors. The total number of valid responses collected was 1,004. The final educational attainment of respondents was as follows: high school graduates accounted for 39.5%, those currently attending or having dropped out of college (including junior college) were 11.6%, university graduates were 33.2%, and graduate school graduates were 1.4%. The survey in Japan targeted men and women aged 18 and above (excluding high school students) nationwide and was conducted from March 30 to April 15 using the leaving method. The total number of valid responses collected was 1,000. The final educational attainment of respondents was as follows: high school graduates accounted for 45.1%, junior college graduates were 20.8%, university graduates were 19.7%, and graduate school graduates were 2.7%.

In addition to the general public survey, EAI and Genron NPO conducted separate surveys of experts (有識者) in Korea and Japan from early to mid-April. The survey in Korea was distributed online to EAI members and related individuals, with a total of 393 respondents. The occupations of Korean experts included 3.8% members of the National Assembly and political party officials, 54.5% university professors and researchers, 7.6% journalists, and 6.6% corporate executives and employees.

Similarly, in Japan, questionnaires were distributed to approximately 2,000 experts and members of academic associations in the political field within Japan who had participated in various activities organized by Genron NPO in the past, with a total of 575 respondents. Their occupations included 20.7% company executives and employees, 3.3% media personnel, 3.0% national public officials, 2.1% local public officials, 0.9% politicians and political party officials, 33.6% scholars and researchers, 5.9% NPO/NGO personnel, 5.7% representatives of various organizations, 5.4% students, 3.1% self-employed individuals, and 16.3% others... (continued)