South Koreans' favorable view of Japan rose to a record 54.3 percent, up from 52.4 percent a year earlier, according to the 13th annual survey jointly conducted by the East Asia Institute (EAI) in Seoul and the International House of Japan (IHJ). The findings were released at a joint press conference in central Seoul.
The figure has climbed steadily since bottoming out at 12.3 percent in 2020 and has remained above the 50 percent mark for a second consecutive year — the highest level recorded since the survey began. Unfavorable views stood at 38.5 percent, while 7.2 percent of respondents said they held a neutral view.
The results suggest that people-to-people exchanges have become a stronger driver of bilateral perceptions than diplomatic tensions.
Among South Koreans with favorable impressions of Japan, 66.9 percent cited the country's orderly society and courteous public culture as the main reason, while 43.9 percent pointed to Japanese food, shopping and tourism. Researchers said the continued surge in two-way travel has played a central role in improving perceptions.
Historical issues nevertheless remained the biggest obstacle to warmer ties.
Among respondents with unfavorable views of Japan, 74.9 percent cited what they considered Japan's insufficient reflection on its wartime past. Another 46.9 percent pointed to the territorial dispute over the Dokdo islets, while 42.0 percent cited unresolved issues surrounding wartime forced labor and military sexual slavery.
The improvement in public sentiment was also reflected in broader assessments of bilateral relations.
The share of South Koreans describing current Korea-Japan relations as "good" nearly doubled to 20.6 percent from 10.6 percent a year earlier. A majority, 59.1 percent, described relations as "average," while 20.6 percent said they remained "bad."
Japanese respondents also reported significantly warmer attitudes toward South Korea.
The proportion holding favorable views rose 10.5 percentage points to 35.3 percent, while unfavorable opinions fell to 44.1 percent from 51.0 percent a year earlier.
Researchers attributed the improvement to the sustained popularity of Korean culture, food and tourism in Japan, as well as a more favorable view of President Lee Jae Myung following the resumption of shuttle diplomacy between Seoul and Tokyo.
The survey was conducted online between July 17 and 21 among 3,099 adults aged 18 and older, including 1,547 respondents in South Korea and 1,552 in Japan.
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