Most Koreans, Japanese Back EU-Style Community

A large majority of citizens in both South Korea and Japan have shown a positive attitude toward establishing an economic community similar to the European Union (EU) model, expressing expectations for improved relations.

The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced the results of the ‘Survey on South Korea-Japan Tourism Cooperation and Economic Community Promotion’ conducted by Hankook Research on 500 citizens from each country on July 7. According to the survey results, 69.8% of Korean citizens and 59.8% of Japanese citizens expressed their support for the formation of an economic community. In particular, the approval rate among Japanese people who have visited South Korea within the last five years reached 74.5%.

A positive atmosphere is also flowing regarding unconventional deregulation in the tourism sector. Regarding the plan to travel between the two countries using only a resident registration card or identification card without a passport, 60.4% of Koreans and 44.8% of Japanese cast their votes in favor. This is interpreted as a result reflecting practical thinking that values the reduction of passport issuance costs and the convenience of travel procedures.

The introduction of a ‘South Korea-Japan version of the Schengen Agreement,’ which allows tourists from third countries to visit both countries with a visa from only one side, is drawing attention from the perspective of economic effects. According to the analysis of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, if this system is implemented, a maximum of 1.84 million additional tourists visiting South Korea can be attracted. However, with South Korea concerned about an increase in illegal stays and Japan worried about public security instability, opinions for and against are tightly opposed, indicating that the preparation of elaborate supplementary measures must precede the introduction of the system.

Citizens of both countries showed the highest support for the mutual linkage of transportation cards and simple payment systems closely related to real life. More than 80% of Korean citizens agreed on the increase in payment convenience, and a majority of Japanese citizens also showed a positive reaction. If the ‘open loop’ payment system currently being promoted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and major Japanese railways such as Tokyo Metro is established, tourist satisfaction is expected to increase further.

Park Beom-seok, head of the international marketing department at the Korea Tourism Organization, explained, “If the infrastructure that allows one’s own simple payment to be used directly in the other country is expanded, the preference of foreign tourists will increase significantly.”

Based on the results of this survey, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry suggested that policy efforts are needed to lower the psychological and physical barriers between the two countries.

An official from the chamber emphasized, “The concept of an economic community is essential as a survival strategy to respond to the reorganization of the global trade order,” adding, “Using tourism cooperation as a primer, private exchanges should be expanded and economic solidarity must be strengthened.”