By AKIHIKO KAISE/ Correspondent
October 16, 2024 at 10:10 JST
Sohn Yul, president of the East Asia Institute in South Korea, explains the findings of the latest survey of South Koreans on their perceptions of Japanese. (Akihiko Kaise)
SEOUL--Close to 42 percent of South Koreans have a favorable impression of Japan, marking the highest level ever, according to a new opinion poll which also found that negative sentiment was roughly the same.
The annual poll, which started in 2013, also found that differing perceptions of the two countries’ shared history remain a major issue and a source of dissatisfaction over the way Seoul and Tokyo are approaching the problem.
The results of the survey, released Sept. 19 by the East Asia Institute, an independent think tank, showed the ratio of South Koreans who hold a favorable view of Japanese jumped to 41.7 percent from 28.9 percent in last year’s survey.
It cited the acceptance of Japanese popular culture in South Korea and more frequent exchanges between citizens of the two countries as contributing to the positive development.
The share of South Koreans who hold Japanese in a negative light stood at 42.7 percent, a sharp drop from 53.3 percent in the previous survey and the lowest since the study began.
The online survey received responses from about 1,000 people aged 18 or older. Previous polls involved face-to-face interviews.
Asked their opinion about the South Korean government’s efforts to bolster ties with Japan, 34.5 percent voiced approval, compared with 49.6 percent who gave the opposite view.
The poll also found that a majority of respondents were not satisfied with the Japanese government’s efforts to improve bilateral relations.
Turning to the South Korean government’s handling of the thorny issue of compensating wartime Korean laborers who were mobilized to work for Japanese businesses, the share of those who are critical of it surpassed that of people who are in favor.
The survey also found 42.1 percent thought it would be difficult to build future-oriented, cooperative bilateral relations unless that aspect of history is resolved, making it the most common answer.
On the issue of defense cooperation, 66.5 percent endorsed strengthening South Korea’s security cooperation with the United States and Japan.
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