Koreans See Economy Surpassing Japan in 10 Years

A recent survey conducted by Elim Net's online platform Now & Survey reveals that half of South Koreans believe their nation's economy will surpass Japan's in the next decade. The poll, which surveyed 1,007 adults nationwide on August 14, shows a significant 51.9% of respondents predicting this economic shift, compared to only 14.0% who think Japan will remain ahead.

This stark contrast highlights a growing perception that South Korea's living standards have already outpaced those in Japan, with 37.2% believing this to be true, compared to 23.3% who think Japan's living standards are higher. When it comes to current national economic power, 36.5% of respondents believe the two countries are similar, while 33.5% think South Korea leads and 30.0% think Japan leads.

The survey also found that South Korea excels in various industries, including semiconductors, cultural content, and shipbuilding and marine. In fact, South Korea ranked ahead of Japan in 9 out of 13 surveyed sectors, with the highest score in semiconductors. However, South Korea's dominance is not absolute, as Japan leads in the basic science and original technology sector.

Separately, a strong majority of 70.0% of respondents support expanding economic cooperation between the two nations, viewing this as a positive step towards overcoming past conflicts. Notably, 49.4% of respondents named economic growth as South Korea's greatest achievement since liberation, followed by the globalization of K-content (31.0%), indicating the nation's focus on economic growth and cultural influence.