Survey Overview

From April to May 2015, The Genron NPO and East Asia Institute (EAI) conducted joint public opinion polls in Japan and South Korea. The objective of this annual survey is to monitor the state of mutual understanding and awareness of the Japanese and South Korean public, inorder to contribute closing the gap in the perceptions of each other between the two societies, and promoting greater mutual understanding. The result of this survey will also be presented and utilized in a dialogue between Japan and South Korea, ‘Japan-Korea Future Dialogue’ on June 21, 2015. The dialogue and joint opinion polls have been conducted annually since 2013 aiming to improve the relationship between the two countries.

The opinion poll in Japan was fielded from April 9 to 30, through the door-to-door home-visit method targeting the men and women over the age of 18 (excluding high school students). The number of total valid responses obtained was 1,000. The final academic qualifications of respondents were as follows: elementary/middle school certificate 9.9%, high school certificate 45.5%, junior college/technical college certificate 18.3%, bachelor’s degree 23.2%, and master’s degree and above 2.1%.

The opinion poll in South Korea was fielded from April 17 to May 8, through face-to-face interview, targeting men and women over the age of 19. The number of total valid responses obtained was 1,010. The final academic qualifications of respondents were as follows: lower than elementary school certificate 7.8%, middle school certificate 7.1%, high school certificate 37.4%, university/college (currently studying and expulsion) 11.4%, bachelor’s degree 35.0%, and master’s degree and above 1.3%.

Intellectual Survey

From mid-April to early May 2015, the Genron NPO and EAI have conducted an additional survey targeting intellectuals in Japan and South Korea. In Japan, the questionnaire consisted of 19 questions which excerpted from the public opinion poll was sent to approximately 6,000 intellectuals who have previously participated in the discussions and surveys organized by The Genron NPO. Responses were obtained from 634 intellectuals. In South Korea, the same questionnaire was sent to approximately 5,000 intellectuals by email. Total response obtained was 310. Those respondents are considered as representative of well-informed intellectuals in Japan and South Korea. The intellectual survey is designed to complement the analysis of general public opinion poll.

1．Impression on One Another’s Countries

1-1.  Impressions on One Another’s Country among the Japanese and South Korean Public

 
While over half of Japanese (52.4%) continue to have “unfavorable” impressions of South Korea (including “relatively unfavorable,” same applies below), this percentage has slightly improved from last year (54.4%). Those with “favorable” impressions (23.8%) also increased from last year’s 20.5%.

In South Korea, on the other hand, 72.5% continue to have “unfavorable” impressions of Japan (compared to 70.9% last year). The percentage with “favorable” impressions of Japan further decreased from last year’s 17.5% to 15.7%, showing that there has not been an end to the worsening of aggravated sentiments...(Continued)

[Figure 1]  Impression of One Another’s Countries

※The data for “Favorable” impression includes both “Favorable” and “Relatively favorable” responses. The data for “Unfavorable” impression includes both “Unfavorable” and “Relatively unfavorable” responses.