Russians and South Koreans positively assess the prospects for strategic partnership. South Korea is getting more and more attractive to Russians.
MOSCOW, June 21, 2018. The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the results of a study devoted to the Russian perceptions of the Russia-South Korea relations. The study has been conducted in cooperation with the Institute of Russian Studies under Hankuk University of Foreign Studies since 2016.
The North Korea-South Korea Summit held in April this year drew a wide public response and political attention: 71% heard of the meeting of the Korean leaders.
Based on the findings of a survey conducted after the talks between North Korea and South Korea, respondents consider that bilateral economic cooperation has high potential (43%); a further 36% pointed to possible unification of the two countries.
Most of Russians (57% in 2018) and residents of South Korea (64% in 2017) consider that our countries can become strategic partners. Potential areas of cooperation might be medicine (37%), high technologies (35%), and trade (30%). South Koreans see Russia basically as a partner in industry and energy sector (58%), politics and diplomacy (33%).
Both Russians (48% in 2018) and Koreans (51% in 2017) think that the main obstacle to the development of bilateral relations is difficult international situation. Poor awareness of the other country and territorial remoteness are reported to cause difficulties perceiving the other party as a partner country.
More and more Russians tend to express liking towards South Koreans: the percentage has grown from 35% in 2016 to 43% in 2018. Russians are increasingly interested in knowing more about South Korea (from 30% in 2016 to 46% in 2018). More than one-third of Russians (37%) liken South Korea to industry and modern technologies.
The Republic of Korea is more and more attractive to Russians: whereas in 2016, 48% wanted to visit South Korea, now its share is 56%. Russians are broadly interested in the South Korean cuisine (37%) and lifestyle (30%), as well as martial arts (26%) and local architecture (22%).
The study was conducted by VCIOM and the Institute of Russian Studies under Hankuk University of Foreign Studies with support of Hankook Research Company on July 22-29, 2016. The study is based on the CATI and online surveys carried out among Russians and Southern Koreans. The Russian sample involved 1,200 respondents; the Korean sample, 1,000 respondents (the sample error does not exceed 3.5%). The samples are random, stratified by sex, age, education level and type of settlement.
The study was conducted by VCIOM and Institute of Russian Studies (Hankuk University of Foreign Studies) supported by Hankook Research Company, May 11-13, 2018. CATI-method was used to survey Russian respondents.
In 2018, the sample size was 2,000 respondents (margin of error does not exceed 2.2%).
In 2017, the sample size in Russia was 1,200 respondents (margin of error does not exceed 3.5%); the study period: July 19-30.
In 2016, the sample size in Russia was 1,600 respondents (margin of error does not exceed 3%); the study period: July 22-29.
In 2016 and 2017, online survey was conducted in the Republic of Korea, with a sample size of 1,000 respondents (stratified, random sample representative of the population in terms of gender, age, level of education and type of settlement).
In April, a summit and talks were held between North Korea and South Korea. Do you know, have you heard, do you hear for the first time about that? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total Russian respondents) 2018 | |
| Total respondents |
I am well aware | 15 |
I heard something but I do not know any details | 56 |
I hear about that for the first time | 29 |
Don't know | ― |
In your opinion, which of the following can happen between North Korea and South Korea within three to five years? (closed-ended question, any number of answers, % of total Russian respondents) 2018 | |
| Total respondents |
Inter-Korean economic cooperation may actively start | 43 |
North and South Korea can be united | 36 |
An agreement putting an end to the war between Koreas can be signed | 24 |
Nothing will change | 12 |
North Korea will surrender its nuclear weapons | 8 |
Other | 3 |
Don't know | 8 |
In your opinion, can Russia and South Korea become strategic partners (i.e. have arrangements at the highest political level to enhance long-term bilateral cooperation in key areas)? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |||||
| Russians | Koreans | |||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2016 | 2017 | |
The countries are already partners | 13 | 12 | 16 | 8 | 10 |
At the moment the countries are not partners but they can become them | 53 | 51 | 57 | 69 | 64 |
No, the countries cannot be partners | 14 | 16 | 11 | 7 | 11 |
Don't know | 20 | 21 | 16 | 16 | 15 |
Could you name three main areas of the development of the cooperation between Russia and South Korea? (closed-ended question, not more than 3 answers, % of total respondents) | |||||
| Russians | Koreans | |||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2016 | 2017 | |
High technologies | 29 | 32 | 35 | 36 | 19 |
Trade | 27 | 31 | 30 | 32 | 21 |
Tourism and communication | 25 | 25 | 29 | 26 | 16 |
Medicine | 25 | 31 | 37 | 7 | 6 |
Politics and diplomacy | 20 | 19 | 25 | 31 | 33 |
Science and education | 20 | 22 | 21 | 25 | 15 |
Military and technical cooperation | 18 | 17 | 19 | 28 | 22 |
Industry and energy | 17 | 20 | 23 | 60 | 58 |
Culture | 15 | 21 | 20 | 12 | 13 |
Agriculture and food industry | 15 | 13 | 11 | 5 | 4 |
Other | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Don't know | 9 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 8 |
Could you name two major obstacles that hamper the development of bilateral relations between Russia and Korea? (closed-ended question, not more than 2 answers, % of total respondents) | |||||
| Russians |
| Koreans | ||
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2016 | 2017 |
Foreign policy problems | 31 | 35 | 48 | 57 | 51 |
Lack of information about countries | 17 | 16 | 11 | 24 | 24 |
Distance barriers | 16 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 8 |
Language barriers | 16 | 16 | 16 | 10 | 5 |
Different cultures | 12 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 13 |
Negative stereotypes | 9 | 9 | 11 | 36 | 28 |
Lack of knowledge about legislative policies of the other country | 8 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 5 |
Other | 5 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
Don't know | 21 | 18 | 15 | 8 | 13 |
We treat certain nations positively (with liking and trust) and others negatively (with distrust and dislike). How do you personally perceive South Koreans/Russians? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |||||
| Russians | Koreans | |||
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2016 | 2017 |
Positively; trust and liking | 35 | 37 | 43 | 13 | 8 |
Negatively; distrust and dislike | 6 | 6 | 2 | 15 | 18 |
Neutrally; no trust, no dislike | 54 | 49 | 51 | 60 | 60 |
Don’t know | 5 | 8 | 4 | 12 | 14 |
Which of the following statements best describes your level of knowledge about South Korea/Russia? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |||||
| Russians | Koreans | |||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2016 | 2017 | |
I know a lot about South Korea/Russia | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
I do not know too much but I would like to | 30 | 38 | 46 | 36 | 51 |
I know little and I do not want to know more | 68 | 58 | 50 | 55 | 45 |
Don’t know | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 4 |
What comes first into your mind, when you hear the words “South Korea”? » (open-ended question, not more than five answers, % of total Russian respondents) | |||
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
Industrial, technological development | 30 | 30 | 37 |
Geographical position, toponymics | 11 | 4 | 2 |
Division of Korea, civil war | 8 | 2 | 3 |
Appearance of Koreans | 5 | 5 | 2 |
Korean culture | 4 | 6 | 2 |
Trade relations with Russian Federation | 4 | 3 | 3 |
Relations with the U.S. | 3 | 3 | 5 |
Nuclear arsenal | 2 | ― | 2 |
High living standards | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Labor culture | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Tourism | 1 | 2 | ― |
Severe political regime | 1 | ― | ― |
Other | 5 | 4 | 9 |
Nothing | 11 | 6 | 4 |
Don't know | 41 | 41 | 35 |
Have you ever visited South Korea/Russia as a tourist; if not, would you like to visit this country in the future? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |||||
| Russians | Koreans | |||
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2016 | 2017 | |
I have been there and I would like to go there again | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
I have been there but I would not like to go there again | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
I have not been there but I would like to | 48 | 51 | 56 | 68 | 65 |
I have not been there and I would not like to | 49 | 46 | 42 | 21 | 29 |
Don't know | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 |
What aspect of the Korean culture/Russian culture are you most interested in? (closed-ended question, not more than 2 answers, % of total respondents) | |||
| Russians | Koreans | |
| 2017 | 2018 | 2017 |
Korean/Russian food | 36 | 37 | 27 |
Martial arts | 24 | 26 | 10 |
Lifestyle, mentality | 23 | 30 | 19 |
Architecture | 16 | 22 | 32 |
Cinema, TV series | 7 | 6 | 3 |
Korean/Russian music | 7 | 5 | 11 |
Painting | 6 | 9 | 1 |
Cyber sport | 6 | 6 | 2 |
Fashion | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Nothing | 13 | 6 | 12 |
Other | 7 | 9 | 2 |
Don't know | 4 | 3 | 14 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory.