Geopolitics, Status Perceptions, and Public Attitudes in Korea–Japan Relations

ABSTRACT This study examines how citizens in Japan and South Korea perceive their countries' relative international status, focusing on cognitive, emotional, and geopolitical factors. Using original data from the 2022 Korea–Japan Joint Perception Survey, binomial logistic regression is employed to analyze individual‐level determinants of status perceptions. The results reveal that perceptions of favorability toward the other country and economic interdependence were significant predictors of status perceptions only among Japanese citizens but not among South Koreans. In contrast, geopolitical factors, particularly perceptions of external threats from China and the strategic importance of the United States, emerged as significant determinants of status perceptions in both countries. These findings suggest that although bilateral perceptions matter primarily in Japan, broader regional dynamics and strategic considerations play a crucial role in shaping status evaluations across both publics. The study highlights the complex and multidimensional nature of national status perceptions in East Asia.