Report on the Main Results of the 3rd Joint Korea-Japan Survey

Survey Overview

The East Asia Institute (EAI), a private think tank in Korea, and Genron NPO, a certified non-profit organization in Japan, conducted a survey on mutual perceptions between the publics of Korea and Japan from April to May 2015. The objective of this survey is to closely examine the current status and changes in the understanding of each other's country by the publics of Korea and Japan, with the aim of resolving perceptual differences and promoting mutual understanding between the two nations.

The results of this survey are utilized in the Korea-Japan Private Sector Dialogue (scheduled to be held on July 18, 2015, as the 3rd Korea-Japan Future Dialogue), which was established in May 2014 by the two organizations with the goal of improving Korea-Japan relations, for joint presentation and discussion.

The public opinion survey in Korea was conducted through face-to-face interviews by surveyors targeting men and women aged 19 and above nationwide from April 17 to May 8. The number of valid responses collected was 1,010. The educational attainment of respondents was as follows: 7.8% completed elementary school or less, 7.1% completed middle school, 37.4% completed high school, 11.4% were currently attending or had dropped out of college (including junior college), 35.0% had completed college, and 1.0% had completed graduate school.

The public opinion survey in Japan was conducted using the mail-back method targeting men and women aged 18 and above (excluding high school students) nationwide from April 9 to April 30. The number of valid responses collected was 1,000. The educational attainment of respondents was as follows: 9.9% completed elementary or middle school, 45.5% completed high school, 18.3% completed junior college or vocational school, 23.2% completed college, and 1.2% completed graduate school.

Separately from these public opinion surveys, the East Asia Institute and Genron NPO conducted a survey of intellectuals (experts) in both countries from early April to late May. In Korea, 19 questions extracted from the public opinion survey were distributed via email to approximately 5,000 EAI members and related experts, yielding a total of 310 valid responses. In Japan, questionnaires were distributed to approximately 6,000 intellectuals in Japan who had participated in past discussions and surveys by Genron NPO, and responses were received from 634 individuals. These respondents were considered representative of the perceptions of average intellectuals in Japanese and Korean society, and the aim was to gain a comprehensive understanding of public opinion on Korea-Japan relations by comparing them with the public opinion in both countries.

1. Impression of the Other Country

1 - 1. Impression of the Other Country

Japanese perceptions of Korea remain 50% negative but show a trend of improvement. Korean perceptions of Japan continue to worsen.

For Koreans, 72.5% (70.9% last year) responded that their impression of Japan is 'not good,' indicating that over 70% still hold a negative view of Japan. Those who responded 'good' (including 'generally good,' hereinafter the same) decreased from 17.5% last year to 15.7%, showing no sign of halting the trend of worsening sentiment towards Japan.

Conversely, among Japanese respondents, 52.4% (54.4% last year) answered that their impression of Korea is 'not good' (including 'generally not good'), still exceeding 50%, but showing a slight improving trend since last year. Responses of 'good' also increased to 23.8% from 20.5% last year.

※ Similar to last year, Japanese intellectuals are divided, with 42.7% (41.7% last year) responding 'good' and 43.2% (44.2% last year) responding 'not good.' Korean intellectuals showed a slight increase in 'good' responses from 51.7% last year to 55.2%, which was higher than the 36.4% (36.8% last year) who responded 'not good.'

[Figure 1] Perceptions of the Other Country

※ A positive perception is the sum of 'good' and 'generally good,' and a negative perception is the sum of 'bad' and 'generally bad.'

1 - 2. Reasons for Positive/Negative Perceptions

For both populations, "history" and "territorial issues" negatively impact their perceptions of the other country.

Regarding the reasons for Koreans' negative perception of Japan, the response "because Japan has not properly reflected on its history of invading Korea" accounted for 74.0%, a slight decrease from 76.8% last year but still exceeding 70%. "Territorial issues" accounted for 69.3% (71.6% last year), nearing 70%. These two reasons overwhelmingly dominate other factors.

The primary reason for Japanese people's negative perception of Korea is the response "because they criticize and continue to criticize Japan over historical issues, etc.," which maintained the 70% range at 74.6% (73.9% last year). "Territorial disputes" accounted for 36.5%, following behind, but this showed a slight decrease from 41.9% last year.

Conversely, regarding the reasons for positive perceptions of the other country, the largest group of Japanese respondents cited "interest in Korean dramas and music, etc." at 51.7%, although this decreased from 59.0% last year. In contrast, for Koreans, the most frequent response was "Japanese people are kind and diligent" at 63.9% (56.8% last year). "A developed country with a high standard of living" followed at 49.4% (53.4% last year). Responses citing "as a fellow democratic country" as a reason for a positive view of Japan decreased from 14.8% last year to 8.9%...(Continued)