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KEY FINDINGS:

Bilateral Relation

Are greater direct exchanges contributing to improving Korean impressions of Japan?

・Japanese opinions regarding South Korea have deteriorated since last year ("bad impression" increasing from 44.6% to 48.6%), yet South Korean opinions of Japan continue to improve moderately ("good impression" increasing from 21.3% to 26.8%). Compared to when the survey began in 2013, Japanese public opinion of South Korea has continued to worsen while South Korean opinions of Japan have gradually improved.

・Again, "historical problems" and "territorial disputes" have an adverse impact on public opinion in Japan and South Korea with regard to the other country. On the other hand, the reason behind favorable Japanese impressions of South Korea was contemporary Korean culture, whereas the reason for South Koreans' favorable impressions of Japan was their familiarity with the Japanese national character. Regarding South Korean public opinion, about half of those who said that they have a good impression of Japan had visited the country, which suggests that the increase in direct exchanges is contributing to the improvement of relations. Around 70% of the Japanese and South Korean public recognize that current national sentiment "is undesirable and I am worried,", and "it is problem, it needs to be improved," which represents an increase from last year.

・Regarding Japan-South Korea relations, there is no change from last year in that about 60% think they are "bad." Also about 50% of respondents from both countries answered that they "do not know," so we cannot draw an accurate picture of the future of bilateral relations. That being said, the positive opinion that "the relationship will improve" is increasing among South Koreans.

・As for the importance of the other country, 90% of South Koreans replied that Japan was "important," yet on the other hand just like last year, 60% of Japanese replied that South Korea was "important," with 20% replying that they "do not know."

Negative impressions of the Japan-South Korea "comfort women" agreement increase among both countries

・As last year, around 40% of Japanese said they "approve" of the Japan-South Korea agreement on "comfort women," the Korean women who were forced to work in Japan's wartime military brothels, yet this sentiment decreased slightly since 2016. Over half of the Koreans polled "disapprove" of the agreement, an increase of 18 points on last year. Furthermore, 50% of Japanese and 70% of South Koreans think that "the issue has not been resolved," despite the Japan-South Korea consensus.

・In addition, half of the Japanese polled were unable to understand the South Korean dissatisfaction with and opposition to the agreement, and they thought South Korea should implement the pact. Less than 10% of Japanese think that it is necessary to make concessions to South Korean opinion and revise the contents of the agreement.

Japanese public opinion on new Korean President cannot be evaluated yet
・It is too early to gauge most Japanese public opinion on new South Korean President Moon Jae-in (with 31.9% saying "neither good nor bad" and 27.6% saying "do not know"). Yet on the other hand, South Korean opinions of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are not far removed from last year, in that 80% have a "somewhat bad impression" or "bad impression" of the Japanese leader.

North Korea's Nuclear Threat

70% of respondents answered North Korea's nuclear issue "is difficult to solve.

・70% of Japanese and South Koreans think that it will be difficult to solve the problem of North Korea's nuclear armament. In both countries, the increasing view is that tension on the Korean Peninsula will only increase over the next decade due to North Korea. However, 20% of South Koreans think that the North Korean nuclear issue will be settled in 10 years' time.

40% of South Koreans think that "military action will not be taken"

・Regarding the possibility of military action, 40% of Japanese think that "it will be taken," yet compared to this, 40% of South Koreans believe that "it won't occur." Regarding the question of how to stop North Korea's nuclear development, many Japanese cite the view that "China should intervene" and "direct dialogue between North Korea and the United States," while South Koreans believe "continuing multilateral discussions like the six-party dialogues" and "strengthening sanctions" will solve the problem. Less than 10% of respondents in both countries thought that military action would be an effective way to solve the problem.

More than 70% in both countries are against Japanese nuclear armament

・Over 70% of respondents in both countries oppose Japan developing or acquiring nuclear weapons. However, compared to last year, there is a slight increase in those who support it. Around 80% of Japanese are opposed to South Korean nuclear armament, but around 70% of South Koreans support it, meaning the number has increased since last year.

President Trump and the Allies

The majority of Japanese and South Koreans do not support President Trump

・Over 60% of Japanese and 70% of South Koreans do not support the stance of U.S. President Donald Trump on free trade and multilateralism. As far as the effect of the Trump administration's actions on Northeast Asia, both countries are concerned by "security problems such as the development of North Korean nuclear weapons."

Poll shows big differences in Japan and South Korea thinking on Trump's impact on bilateral alliances

・Both Japanese and South Korean are concerned about alliance issues with the U.S., but there is a difference in understanding because as many as 70% of South Koreans think this way compared to only 30% of Japanese. As for multilateral cooperation on global issues, something the Trump administration is skeptical of, there is consistent understanding in that around 80% of respondents in both countries believe "it is important."