Audience: Domestic and foreign media, newspapers, and Internet journalists from both Korea and Japan
Language: Korean and Japanese simultaneous interpretation
Contents: 2015 Joint Public Opinion Poll Result Booklet and Analysis Report

Analysis Report on Comparative Data [Download]

Opening Remarks

Yasushi Kudo, President of The Genron NPO

Presentation: Introduction of 2015 Poll Results

Han Wool Jeong, Senior Research Fellow of EAI

Yasushi Kudo, President of The Genron NPO

Q&A

Han Wool Jeong, Senior Research Fellow of EAI

Yasushi Kudo, President of The Genron NPO

1) South Korea and Japan's top foreign and security think tank representatives, EAI • The Genron NPO

The East Asia Institute and Genron (言论) NPO (www.genron-npo.net) will hold its second international joint press conference targeted at national and international media (Korean, Japanese simultaneous translation provided). The East Asia Institute and Genron NPO are among the 25 founding member organizations of the CoCs (Council of Councils) organized by CFR (Council on Foreign Relation) and represent South Korea and Japan as the leading private think tanks in the field of international security.

2) Reading the Trends in Changed Public Opinion: The 3nd Korea-Japan Future Dialogue Public Opinion Survey

The two organizations established the “Korea-Japan Future Dialogue,” a channel for civilian dialogue for Korea and Japan, in Tokyo in May, 2013. It was established to enable regular monitoring of public opinion, national sentiments, and opinions of leaders annually, and aims to discuss ways for civilian cooperation to improve Korea-Japan relations. The “Korea-Japan Public Opinion Poll,” as a part of the Korea-Japan Future Dialogue program, released the key findings of the poll at a press conference targeting domestic and international media reporters before the main conference.

3) The Value of Korea-Japan Future Dialogue Survey

The main topics covered in the 2015 Korea-Japan Future Dialogue Public Opinion Survey included the following.

• Recognition of the past, present and future of the two countries: through the analysis of 3~40 questions, the similarities and differences in the two countries’ citizens’ perceptions were examined from every angle. It analyzed questions that cut across a wide range of topics including the two countries’ citizens collective memories of the past, current awareness of each other, and future outlook on Korea-Japan relations. Through this survey, the location of conflict in current public perceptions, the depth of each countries’ citizens’ mutual understanding and the width in gap between the two countries’ perception of each other is clearly revealed.

 

• Changes found in Korea and Japan’s public opinion over the past year: More than 20 questions from the survey conducted in 2013 and 2014 were re-asked, allowing examination of trends in citizens’ perception changes over the past two years, since the establishment of Korea’s Park Geun-hye administration and Japan's Abe administration, there have been many changes in the two countries’ relations. The direct impact of these changes can be found in the changes in the two countries’ citizens’ perceptions.

 

• Specific Policy Implications: This survey contains relevant information to be considered in Korea-Japan relations policy research in addition to holding academic and journalistic value. Diagnosis and solution building to Korea and Japan’s deadlock relationship, public opinion on the issue of East Asian neighbors in the process of reorganization (the rise of China, the weakening influence of the United States, North Korea threat, etc.), and a parallel survey of experts and opinion leaders provides an important reference point and policy implications.

4) Opinion Poll Attracts Foreign Media’s Attention

The press conference of Korea-Japan Future Dialogue Public Opinion Poll is an international press conference that was targeted not only towards domestic media but also Korean and Japanese broadcast media, newspapers, and internet media. During the press conference, the main results of “the 3nd Korea-Japan Future Dialogue Public Opinion Poll (Research by opinion leaders included),” which followed the “1st and 2nd Korea-Japan Future Dialogue Public Opinion” that was held in Tokyo in 2013 and in Seoul in 2014, was announced. The results of the public opinion poll, which were introduced during the press conference held in 2013 and 2014, were introduced through main Japanese media outlets and Korean media sources, such as NHK, Yomiuri Shinbun, Asahi Shinbun, and Mainichi Shinbun. It was also carried by foreign media outlets in the U.S. and China, such as the Wall Street Journal, Xinhua News Agency, CCTV, and People’s Daily.

5) The Place to Discuss Policy Issues in Depth: the 3rd Korea-Japan Future Dialogue

The results of the poll will be used at the Korea-Japan Future Dialogue Conference to diagnose issues in depth and devise a specific solution after civilian experts of both countries discuss the issues identified. Core issues that stood out during the international press conference will be discussed at the “Korea-Japan Future Dialogue, which is a channel for civilian dialogue of politicians, businessmen, scholars, artists, and media figures of Korea and Japan. The Korea-Japan Future Dialogue will be held in Seoul and Tokyo every year, respectively, and the 3rd Korea-Japan Future Dialogue will be hold at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 21 at the UN University, Tokyo. (Refer to Table 1 for this year’s participants)

[Table 1] Participants of the 2015 3nd Korea-Future Dialogue