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According to the "Survey on the Awareness of Japan-South Korea Relations" conducted by the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry for 202 companies, 92.6% answered that "it is absolutely necessary" about the need for economic cooperation.
When asked about improving relationships, 80.7% said that the current difficulties would continue, and 6.4% said that it would get worse, and pessimistic views were predominant. On the other hand, the optimistic view that "it will get better and better" was only 12.9%.
As the biggest obstacle to bilateral cooperation, "historical issues" were most often pointed out at 42.1%. Next, "deterioration due to external requirements such as new coronavirus infection" was 15.3%.
"Trade friction between the two countries such as export restrictions" was 12.9%, "Mutual restraint and deepening of competitiveness" was 10.4%, “Deterioration of national consciousness in both countries” was in the order of 9.9%.
The most urgent priority to work together was "joint efforts to maintain free trade" at 31.2%. This was followed by "Expansion of FTAs (Free Trade Agreements) such as Japan-Korea/Japan-China-Korea and CPTPP (Comprehensive and Advanced Agreement on Trans-Pacific Partnership)" at 21.8%. When these two answers are combined, more than half of the companies are "expecting trade revitalization in the region."
Kang Sok, General Manager of International Trade Headquarters of the Korean Chamber of Commerce, said, "Companies in both Japan and South Korea facing the double burden of diplomatic conflict with COVID-19 will respond to the reorganization of the global supply network (GVC) in the future. "We have to face challenges" he said. "We need to restore the foundation of Japan-Korea cooperation from the private business community, discover cooperation issues, and make efforts for mutual communication."
2021/11/29 21:13 KST
