2004 Public Opinion Survey on Social Trust: Frequency Table

Purpose of the Survey

This survey aims to examine whether Koreans are building trust in national institutions and fostering trust in the market by overcoming the barriers of closed, pre-modern kinship ties such as blood relations, school ties, and regional ties. Furthermore, to analyze whether the "powerful" who exert influence over society are indeed trusted by the public, the survey included various groups ranging from government and military to large corporations, media organizations, labor unions, and civic groups. The objective was to develop a trust-influence index that tracks whether public trust in each group is as high as its influence. The survey results are expected to serve as an opportunity to teach the public about the limitations of kinship-based networks and to strengthen the resolve of each group to regain trust.

EAI commenced preparatory work for this purpose in July 2004. Professor Jae-youl Lee (Department of Sociology, Seoul National University) played a central role in reviewing existing research and developing new survey questions. The questionnaire comprised a total of 38 items and was administered through face-to-face interviews by Korea Research, with the sponsorship of Hankook Ilbo, from November 19 to December 12, 2004. The survey targeted 1,000 valid respondents, with a margin of error of ±3.1% at a 95% confidence level.

Survey Methodology

Target Population: Adult men and women aged 20 and over

Survey Region: Nationwide

Valid Sample: 1,000 individuals

Survey Method: Face-to-face interviews

Margin of Error: ±3.1 percentage points (95% confidence level)

Survey Dates: November 29 - December 11, 2004

Sponsor: Hankook Ilbo

Planning and Analysis: EAI