Summary of Key Findings from the 4th Korea-Japan Joint Perception Survey

The 4th Korea-Japan Mutual Perception Survey

The East Asia Institute (EAI) (Director: Lee Sook-jong), a South Korean think tank, and Genron NPO (Representative: Kudo Yasushi), a Japanese non-profit think tank, conducted a survey on mutual perceptions between the citizens of South Korea and Japan from June to July 2016. The survey results will be announced on July 20th at 2 PM at the Press Center. This marks the fourth iteration of the survey, following the first three conducted annually since 2013. The survey aims to continuously understand the changes in understanding and perception that citizens of both countries have towards each other, with the objective of resolving various perceptual differences and promoting mutual understanding. The key findings of the 2016 survey will be presented at a press conference at the Seoul Press Center at 2 PM on July 20th, attended by approximately 50 domestic and foreign correspondents. The materials for this press conference include (1) this summary presentation, (2) key data tables, and (3) a main report.

Press Conference for Domestic and Foreign Correspondents

Date and Time: Wednesday, July 20, 2016, 2:00 PM

Location: Press Conference Room (19th Floor), Seoul Press Center

Presenters: Lee Sook-jong (EAI), Kim Bo-mi (EAI), Kudo Yasushi (Genron NPO)

Detailed results of this survey will be reported at the '4th Korea-Japan Future Dialogue' to be held in Seoul on September 1-2, jointly organized by the East Asia Institute and Genron NPO, where various discussions will take place. At the 4th Korea-Japan Future Dialogue, private experts and intellectuals from both countries will gather to narrow the perceptual gap between the citizens, which has recently worsened, and to discuss in depth measures to improve the cooling bilateral relations. (※ Please refer to the separate document for an overview of the '4th Korea-Japan Future Dialogue'.)

Key Findings from the 4th Korea-Japan Mutual Perception Survey

The survey results can be summarized as indicating that while the wall of negative mutual perceptions remains high, a momentum for change has been discovered. The most notable finding is that the negative mutual perceptions between the citizens of South Korea and Japan, which had been deteriorating, have been halted, and signs of improvement are evident across various survey items. Paradoxically, the past 3-4 years have seen the worst bilateral relations, to the extent that the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Japan was focused on 'normalization of relations.' For three and a half years, no summit meetings were held. This strained relationship was reflected in public opinion, and the 2015 Korea-Japan Mutual Perception Survey starkly revealed the worst sentiments between the citizens of both countries. This survey focused on how the efforts by the governments to improve relations, such as the South Korea-Japan summit held in November 2015 and the subsequent agreement between the foreign ministers on the comfort women issue in December, were reflected in the mutual perceptions of the citizens.

1. Signs of Improvement in Mutual Perceptions Between Korean and Japanese Citizens: The Worst Bilateral Sentiments Halted, with Decreased Negative Perceptions and Increased Positive Perceptions Across Survey Items

Decrease in Negative Perceptions Towards the Other Country, Slight Increase in Positive Perceptions

Positive mutual perceptions between Korean and Japanese citizens have never surpassed negative mutual perceptions. However, it is noteworthy that negative perceptions towards the other country, which had worsened in recent years, have decreased, and positive perceptions have slightly increased. The percentage of Koreans who responded that their impression of Japan was 'not good' or 'generally not good' decreased from 72.5% last year to 61.0%. Similarly, the percentage of Japanese who responded that their impression of Korea was 'not good' or 'generally not good' decreased from 52.4% last year to 44.6%. Both Korean and Japanese citizens also showed a slight increase in positive perceptions towards the other country. The proportion of Koreans who responded that their impression of Japan was 'good' or 'generally good' increased from 15.7% last year to 21.3%. In Japan, this figure rose from 23.8% last year to 29.1%. Although negative perceptions towards the other country still account for a majority or near-majority in both nations, the trend of increasing negative perceptions has been halted, indicating a shift in the sentiment.

Decrease in Negative Perceptions of the Other Country's Socio-Political System

Negative perceptions regarding the socio-political systems of the other country have also decreased. While a majority of Koreans perceive Japan's current socio-political system negatively, associating it with militarism, hegemonism, and nationalism, these negative perceptions have decreased compared to last year, and positive perceptions, such as associating it with pacifism, have increased. The proportion of Koreans who responded 'militarism' in a multiple-choice question decreased from 56.9% last year to 49.6%, and those who responded 'hegemonism' decreased from 34.3% to 24.7%. Only 8.5% of Koreans perceive Japan as 'pacifist,' but this is more than double the 4.2% recorded last year. Japanese perceptions of South Korea's socio-political system have also improved. The percentage of Japanese who responded 'nationalism' decreased from 55.7% last year to 48.1%, and those who responded 'statism' decreased from 38.6% to 30.2%. The proportion of Japanese who perceive Korea as 'democratic' or 'pacifist' increased from 14.0% and 6.6% last year to 23.0% and 9.9%, respectively. The improvement in perceptions of the other country has positively influenced perceptions of its socio-political system.

Decrease in Negative Japanese Perceptions of President Park Geun-hye,

Prime Minister Abe Still Receives Largely Negative Evaluation

Changes were also observed in the impressions of the leaders of the respective countries. Negative perceptions of President Park Geun-hye among Japanese respondents decreased by 11.7 percentage points from 48.3% last year to 36.6%. While negative perceptions of Prime Minister Abe among Korean respondents slightly decreased from 80.5% last year, they remained high at 79.4%. Positive perceptions of the leaders in both countries increased, but remained at a minimal level. The positive perception of President Park Geun-hye among Japanese respondents was 6.7%, and the positive perception of Prime Minister Abe among Korean respondents was 4.1%.

Evaluation and Outlook of Current Korea-Japan Relations Also Improved

The evaluation of current bilateral relations between South Korea and Japan has also improved, according to the survey. While the majority of Japanese respondents (50.9%) still view the current Korea-Japan relations as 'bad,' this represents a significant improvement compared to 73.8% in 2014 and 65.4% in 2015. Among Koreans, the 'bad' response rate was also high at 62.3%, but this is a significant improvement of over 15 percentage points compared to 77.8% in 2014 and 78.2% in 2015. Expectations for improvement in Korea-Japan relations were also revealed. The largest proportion of respondents in both countries believe that future Korea-Japan relations will 'remain unchanged' from the current state: 52.1% of Koreans (45.9% last year) and 49.0% of Japanese (41.4% last year). However, looking at the responses indicating that relations will 'improve' (including 'generally improve'), the figures were 23.3% for Koreans (19.0% last year) and 22.7% for Japanese (21.9% last year), showing a slight increase from the previous year for both. Furthermore, the proportion of those who believe relations will 'worsen' (including 'generally worsen') significantly decreased compared to last year, to 9.9% for Japanese (12.1% last year) and 18.5% for Koreans (28.4% last year). Excluding those who expect relations to 'remain unchanged,' the number of people who believe relations will 'improve' exceeded those who believe they will 'worsen' in both countries. It can be confirmed that the number of people expecting improved bilateral relations is increasing in both nations.

While there have been no major changes from last year, the perception of the importance of Korea-Japan relations among the citizens of both countries remains high. 86.9% of Koreans and 62.7% of Japanese responded that Korea-Japan relations are 'important.' It is noteworthy that the majority of citizens in both countries recognize the necessity of improving relations. ... (continued)