연구보고서

Ⅱ. South Korea and North Korea
• Overall, South Korea is perceived as a trustworthy and cooperative
state, whereas North Korea is viewed as a source of threat and distrust.
• Europe and North America generally regard South Korea as
a mature partner; Japan, however, shows cool and distrustful
attitudes toward both Koreas.
• In most countries, North Korea is seen as threatening, while South
Korea is not. Japan is the notable exception, perceiving South Korea
as a threat as well.
• In cultural and economic imagery, South Korea is viewed as
advanced, whereas North Korea is regarded as underdeveloped.
• Poland tends to view South Korea as an “ambitious” state, while
Japan and Mongolia show tendencies to see it as “dependent.”
• Japan exhibits high knowledge of Korean Peninsula issues but
also relatively negative images of both Koreas. Mongolia displays
high interest in Korean Peninsula affairs and maintains a balanced,
positive view of both South and North Korea.
– South Korea enjoys broad international trust, but Japan’s
persistent coolness may pose a challenge to South Korea’s image
balance in Northeast Asia.
• Mongolia has been deepening its economic and political ties with
South Korea while maintaining traditional friendly relations
with North Korea. These factors likely contribute to Mongolian
respondents’ positive attitudes toward both Koreas.
Ⅲ. Peace and Unification on the Korean Peninsula
• Regarding international support for peace on the Korean
Peninsula, the United States is highly willing to provide all forms
of support, whereas Japan remains reluctant.
• Germans, having experienced national unification, show positive
attitudes toward Korean unification as well.
• While the international community agrees with the ideal of
unification, it is skeptical about its practical feasibility.
– Most surveyed countries recognize the need for Korean
unification but assess its likelihood as low.
• Japan records the lowest levels for both the perceived necessity
and feasibility of unification, while Mongolia records the highest.
Japan’s skepticism may reflect its strategic perception that
unification might not serve Japanese national interests.
• In most countries, 70–80% view North Korea’s nuclear weapons
as an “offensive threat.” Threat perceptions are strongest in Japan
(81.5%) and the United States (73%), and relatively weaker in Europe.
• Mongolia stands out as the only country where a high share of
respondents (69%) view North Korea’s nuclear weapons as “for
self-defense,” influenced by its traditionally friendly relations with
Pyongyang.
• Preferred approaches to North Korean denuclearization follow this
order: diplomatic measures first, followed by economic sanctions,
and lastly military options.
IⅤ. International Affairs and Security
• Outlook on U.S.–China relations: 86% expect relations to “worsen
or remain stagnant,” reflecting perceptions of a structurally
entrenched rivalry.
• Credibility of the U.S. nuclear umbrella: the average stands at 38%,
with high confidence only in South Korea (71%) and Poland (49%).
• U.S. Forces Korea (USFK): 75% of Americans support maintaining
or increasing troop levels, indicating sustained public support for
the U.S. role in international security.
• Japan–North Korea relations: 49% of Japanese respondents view
dialogue with North Korea as necessary.