Professor Sangmi Jeong of the Center for Geo-Political Studies at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy presents findings from the first Korea-U.S.-Japan Public Opinion Poll, indicating that South Koreans tend to view security cooperation with Japan more positively as their threat perception towards North Korea and China increases. The author argues that this threat perception vis-à-vis North Korea and China leads not only to support for trilateral security cooperation but also for bilateral cooperation between South Korea and Japan, demonstrating that Koreans view Japan as a strategic partner for responding to security threats. Professor Jeong suggests it is necessary to observe whether future self-centered actions by the U.S. could become a factor driving the perceived necessity for cooperation with Japan among Koreans.

Eun-mi Choi, Research Fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, analyzes that while Korea's younger generation, who approaches Japan from a ‘cultural’ perspective, is driving favorable sentiment toward Japan, Korea's older generation views Japan as a source of conflict from a ‘historical relationship’ perspective, based on the results of the 1st Korea-U.S.-Japan Public Opinion Poll and the 12th Korea-Japan Public Opinion Poll. Dr. Choi interprets this difference as positive impressions of Japanese culture outweighing the negative impact of Korea-Japan conflicts on the perceptions of the 2030 generation. Accordingly, the author recommends strengthening the institutional foundation for youth exchanges between Korea and Japan, as well as making efforts to bridge the gap in perceptions of Japan between different generations in Korea.

Professor Kyung Suk Lee of Incheon National University's Department of Political Science and International Relations examines South Korean public opinion on the ‘modernization of the ROK-US alliance’ debate based on the results of the 1st ROK-US-Japan Public Opinion Poll. Professor Lee analyzes that the near 60% bipartisan support for ‘modernizing the ROK-US alliance’ stems from South Koreans recognizing the security threat posed by China's military expansion, predicting this support will continue to rise. Meanwhile, Professor Lee points out that the U.S. must secure support from the Korean public to facilitate a smooth transition of USFK's mission, suggesting measures such as the U.S. providing a “robust nuclear umbrella” and “revising tariff policies.”