ADRN

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]

Program

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

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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

Korea

Japan

Chan-soo Kang, Senior Advisor of the KTB Securities Jae Cheon Choi, Member of the National Assembly of Korea (New Politics Alliance for Democracy Party) Jae Jeong Chung, Professor of the University of Seoul Jae ho Yeom, President of the Korea University Jong Sonu, Head Editor of the International Department of Chosun Ilbo Kak-soo Shin, President of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy's Center for International Law; Former Korean Ambassador to Japan Se Yeon Kim, Member of the National Assembly of Korea (Saenuri Party) Sei Young Cho, Professor of the Dongseo University Sook-Jong Lee, President of EAI; Professor at Sungkyunkwan University Won Bok Rhie, President of the Duksung Women's University Won Jae Lee, President of The Hope Institute Young-hwan Oh, Tokyo Bureau Chief of Joongang Ilbo Yul Sohn, Dean and Professor at Yonsei University’s Graduate School of International Studies

Hiroshi Komatsu, Chief Editorial Writer of the Mainichi Shimbun Ichiro Fujisaki, Visiting Professor of the Sophia University; Former Japanese Ambassador to the United States of America Junya Nishino, Associate Professor of the Keio University Kazuhiko Yamamoto, Advisor to Mori Building Co.; President and CEO of Mori Urban Planning Corporation Kazuo Ogoura, chair of Japanese delegation; Former Japanese Ambassador to South Korea Keiichiro Asao, Member of the House of Representative Rio Yoshioka, Senior Program Officer of  Human Rights Watch Seiichi Kondo, Director of Kondo Institute for Culture & Diplomacy; Former Commissioner, Agency for Cultural Affairs Tadashi Ideishi, former Seoul Beuraw NHK Yasushi Kudo, President of The Genron NPO Yasuyo Sakata, Professor of the Kanda University of International Studies Yoriko Kawaguchi, Adjunct Professor of the Meiji University; Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoshihide Soeya, Professor of the Keio University Yukiko Fukagawa, Professor of the Waseda University