Abe as unpopular as Kim Jong-Un, S Korean poll shows

So, she would talk with someone who killed his former girlfriend, his uncle and who know how many Koreans he killed and will kill, Interesting, BRAVO KOREA BRAVO .

As much as Abe is very low on my list of prime ministers in Japan the last 22 years, I can't believe South Koreans would put him quite that low! What in Sam Hill!

This is Korean style of politics and diplomacy. International body should be more pro active in resolving all these territorial disputes. Sex slave has been a global problem throughout wars in history. Some even use women and children of the whole tribe, clan,..as reward to their soldiers when they conquered the enemy. It is a global issue, not just Korea. Modernity is at stake. Japan must stand firm showing the good deeds to the world community as has been in the last sixty years or so. Peace and prosperity to all, if you will; not name calling.

South Koreans would rather hate Japan than North Korea that tends to kill South Koreans every couple of years.

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One says stupid things, the other makes plans to kill them. Yeah, I can totally see the moral equivalence.....

Abe's "genius" was to devalue the Japanese yen by 20%, generating huge profits for Toyota and other export industries. This windfall came bundled with a creeping right-wing agenda that will be followed soon enough by a new constitution that wrests what few rights the citizens currently enjoy and puts them back in the hands of the oligarchs. I will concede that Japan's economy needed saving, but it is certainly no exaggeration to say that by putting Abe in command, the voters made a deal with the devil. As far as this article is concerned, however, when did South Koreans ever profess to show respect or affection in a Japanese prime minister?

Seems like until Japan "repent" as per Korea's standard, no amount of sincere repentance on the Japanese side could quell Korea's quest for repentance. Seems like they too, want to simply annex Japan.

Uncle dead ? Didn't he trow him to the hungry dogs ? Its frightening what he is capable to do, while Abe can say wrong things, Kim Jong-Un can do horrifying things, and I believe that those people who managed to persuade Rodman to promote Kim Jong-Un as "his friend" are South Korean , because, he is ruining the image Koreans want to build in world, he is crazy,murderous, fat and ugly Korean , totally opposite image of that Korea is building all this years of their people in the world .

Mr. Charisma in the flesh!

Abe basgers are all over on JT politics board. So, Abe might not be bothered on this news. At least he did not make any of his relative hungry for 5 dyas in cage next to hungry dogs and then made his relative fed to 5 these hungry dogs. Well. Abe bashers here are mostly none-Japanese anyway.

This just shows how delusional South Koreans are when it comes to all things Japan.

Everyone needs to tone down the rhetoric. When you've completley dehumanized the other, that's when war is possible.

At least he did not make any of his relative hungry for 5 dyas in cage next to hungry dogs and then made his relative fed to 5 these hungry dogs.

That story was made up by a Hong Kong press. It was proven false. He was shot by a firing squad, confirmed by North Korean defectors. Just saying.

This just shows how delusional South Koreans are when it comes to all things Japan

Ask the Japanese in a poll, which country they like better, North or South Korea. I'm pretty sure there won't be much difference between the two, when it comes to Japanese opinion. The feeling is mutual, don't kid yourself.

Japan is hardly beloved in any Asian country, given that country's militaristic past. The animosity stems from Japan's occupation of the Korean Peninsula from 1905 to 1945 has created a seemingly permanent schism between the two countries. In Korea, it's very strange for somebody to say they like Japan.

@toshiko

Well. Abe bashers here are mostly none-Japanese anyway.

This is probably very true ! However, do the Japanese really accept all his future plans without blinking an eye ? As I see it Abe wants to :

Build up the military Restart dangerous Nuclear energy Re-write history (Japan did NO wrong... ?!) Refuse to apologize (in written form) for "recruiting" Comfort Women Visit Yasukuni and - in so many other ways - behave provocatively ("name calling" etc.) "Forget" to rebuild Fukushima and use the money (donated and/or tax-payer) for building extravagant stadiums for the Olympics...

Not to mention "la pièce de résistance" we're ALL going to be fkd by his consumption tax hike from April...

how could Kim the Great and Holy Savior be ranked the same as Abe? He's got a much better fashion sense. The black on black with shades of jet black and black undertones is in, and always will be.

chucky: I did not know NK defector;s claim. I read N Korean official newspaper version in Chinese language at that time and I believed the article. In any case, None of Abe's relatives are shot. Mrs Akie Abe is active in her Domestic Opposition Party and his brother, Nobuo Kishi is one of Ministers. Do you have any info that Abe made Abe's relative shot?

Toshiko: Abe's grandfather was responsible for the deaths of many Japanese and non-Japanese. Abe appears to want to repeat those misdeeds, given the chance, hence his constant clamouring to change the constitution and strip away the rights of the people. Abe is a dangerous nutcase who should not be prime minister.

I say the Government of Japan amend the security agreement with the USA. It would prohibit them from using their bases in Japan to support the Republic of Korea in event of hostilities. Let the koreans decide the issue on their own. I do not care if the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea wins and reunites the country. It is not Japan's fight!

Well he's proving to be much the same as Kim, at least in terms of thinking, so this is not a surprise.

Ask the Japanese in a poll, which country they like better, North or South Korea. I'm pretty sure there won't be much difference between the two, when it comes to Japanese opinion. The feeling is mutual, don't kid yourself.

Not true. Check the BBC poll, it's something like 50% vs 0%.

Hmm, Abe: a charismatic PM with an ambitious plan for kickstarting Japan's economy (which seems to be doing quite well thanks to "Abenomics", but with a tendency to be a little thick at times, or Kim Jong-Un: a militant nutcase who had his own uncle executed. Wow. What a tough choice. I honestly don't know who's worse. By the way, if you think that I'm being serious there, you don't get sarcasm. Abe is far better than Kim Jong-Un, or Xi Jinping. Hell, I'd take him over David Cameron and Nick Clegg (Someone, please save us Brits from Dumb and Dumber). But hey, what do you expect from a poll originating from China's lapdog. Next they'll be trying to say that Florence Nightingale is as bad as Chairman Mao. I don't know if I ever had any respect left for South Korea, but if I did, it's gone now. Also

The Dokdo islands—known as Takeshima in Japan—are controlled by South Korea, which sees Japan’s rival claim as an example of its refusal to shed its imperialist past.

Really? Are you kidding me South Korea? You invade Takeshima by force, and then slag off Japan, accusing their rightful claim as a refusal to shed it's imperial past? Right, because Japan is so evil these days. I mean, they're warmongering invaders. Oh no wait, that's China. That's who you should be criticizing and defending against, not Japan. South Korea, I just, they get presented with 2+2 and come up with 17. It boggles the mind. The writing's on the wall, so they're just going to paint over it.

Why is no one asking for the wording of the poll question?

Interesting, in 2010 36% of the Japanese had a favorable view of S.Korea, but that dwindled to 14% in 2013. (Still 0-1% for North Korea).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/160410bbcwspoll.pdf

http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/2013%20Country%20Rating%20Poll.pdf

The rising of the right-wing government is mostly responsible for the Japan and S.Korea spat.

South Koreans tend to think of North Koreans as "blood brothers" - that they're ultimately of the same kin. So in their view even though they're acting badly, they're not really "that bad".

As bad as Abe is, it's pretty bad that they'd view him worse than Kim Jung Un. I just wish that Abe was unpopular as Kim Jung Un in Japan.

I do not care if the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea wins and reunites the country. It is not Japan's fight!

Nice Japanese mentality there - in your little bubble with your tunnel vision until something comes crashing through your door. In the event of a conflict it is also Japan's problem, because the two countries are your very close neighbors, one of them being a significant trade partner and the other presumably having nuclear weapons and an extremely stylish albeit pudgy supreme leader.

South Korea equates massive inferiority complex. It's leaders play the past history between the two countries in order to distract the peoples attention from the Oligarchic Chaebols and the cozy relationship with the governing bodies. Ms Park? I am sure that detailed investigation will establish that her animosity to Japan is personal, gained during her term as her father's representative as host to visiting politicians from other countries. Some misogynist Japanese politician undoubted asked her to make the tea and she has never forgotten.

As clumsy and ham-handed the Chinese government's efforts to divert attention from domestic problems (wealth gap, pollution, etc.) to nationalism are, at least they are understandable. The Korean sense of "han" (we've been wronged and we'll never let you forget it) seems to be the driving force here, and the ROK government is just tagging along.

Mike Will: "South Korea equates massive inferiority complex."

An even more valid reason for the comparison, for Japan, too, suffers a severe inferiority complex.

To Korea and China, remember, it's Abe's ratings that are down. The people of Japan (non political) are still kind and friendly on the international stage.

As if this matters...it's like asking Americans the popularity of Kim Jong Un or asking Malaysians the popularity of Barack Obama--it has no relevance!

Abe isn't in Japan most of the time-how can he be so unpopular?

Just because many of the 'Abe bashers' are non-Japanese, toshiko, does not necessarily invalidate their opinions on the matter -- you do realize there are non-Japanese residents with PR status, who have chosen to live, contribute and raise families in Japan? I'd still like to believe people can be proud of their countries of origin/residence, while maintaining the ability to cast a critical eye on its government and societal issues at large. Abe is not helping move the conversation forward, but he has mutual partners in this with Park Geun-Hye and Xi Jinping. Given the nature of politics in each nation, and the potential optics of one government facing its own after 'capitulating' or acceding to another nation's will, these issues will likely remain unresolved going forward.

I'd bet this poll did not ask 'thinking;' of these two.. Just which one you prefer, Kim, Abe, none of above type poll.

Things could get really ugly in this part if the world. I've spent quite a lot of time in China, some time in South Korea and 14 years in Japan and I've always been struck by the similarities rather than differences between the countries. The one similarity that scares me the most is a widespread willingness to judge each other on the basis of whatever the media is feeding them. It doesn't take much to get the peoples of these countries to despise each other.

There are a lot of people who hate Abe in Japan, but if a "foreigner" hates him then he's an "Abe-basher". I'd say, stop this kind of reactionary thinking.

Hmmm. Abe doesn't threaten to annihilate South korea as often as Un does. Maybe he should step it up a little so the S. Koreans have a really imminent reason to dislike him.

Well, if Abe behaves and do as he's told, then I got no qualms with him. Problem is when the message is clear to you and you don't listen, then we've got a problem with trust. So the next time you ask for something, we'll have to think twice about your intentions.

There is no doubt Abe's stock has fallen dramatically among the world leaders and gov't. Trust is a subjective thing. Once the chain is broken, its very difficult to piece it back together.

But to put Abe on par with the obese tyrant, well, that comparison is not too far fetched from Abe's own foot in mouth playbook.

and why is being popular in korea important?

Fox Cloud LeleanFeb. 13, 2014 - 11:19AM JST

Really? Are you kidding me South Korea? You invade Takeshima by force, and then slag off Japan, accusing their rightful claim as a refusal to shed it's imperial past?

I’m curious what made you believe South Korea invaded Takeshima by force. Dokdo was the land belonging to Korea until Japan took it on the false ground that it had no owner in 1905 in spite of Japanese evidence Dokdo belonged to Korea. Wan’t it a justice Japan had to return the land Imperial Japan took by force or greed according to the Terms for Surrender Japan signed in 1945?

Did everyone miss this part?

Nevertheless, half of the Korean public said they supported the idea of a South Korea-Japan summit and nearly 60 percent wanted President Park Geun-Hye to take a proactive role in improving ties.

A majority want to improve ties. And I for one I think that Abe is not helping improve ties. Hating a LEADER and hating a COUNTRY are not the same. I dislike Abe because he seems to only care about the fat cats of Japan, be it the big businesses or fat old-money right wing crowd.

Toshiko, this foreigner dislikes Abe because his actions are harming the Japanese regular folks I care a great deal about. And I am a tax-payer, so although I can not vote, I think I have a right to have an opinion. My opinion does not speak for anyone except me, unlike a politician.

@Suin

There was a dispute on the ownership of the island before 1905. South Korea could have brought the issue up in international court and both sides could have argued their points in front of impartial mediators and judges.

Nope, they invaded the island instead.

The reason Abe is in power is all the nationalism and anger China and Korea stirred up, humiliating Japan by defacing and destroying Japanese property (or more often, property owned by law-abiding Chinese citizens which happened to come from Japan). They have no one to blame but themselves. No country responds to be cornered politically with thoughtful words and good cheer -- American certainly doesn't, when our various national pastimes are criticized by the outside world.

Abe is frankly doing good things for the economy, being active and making things better than they've been in years, showing more compotent leadership than anyone else except Koizumi. Do you guys remember the slapstick comedy that was Minshuto? The Earth literally rejected them on 3.11.11. If only Abe could avoid the right wing stuff, the Yasukuni and textbooks and statements like the NHK guy made, the world would be on Japan's side.

toshiko: "I'd bet this poll did not ask 'thinking;' of these two.. Just which one you prefer, Kim, Abe, none of above type poll."

This isn't an Asahi Shinbun poll, Toshiko, and I find it hard to believe they could accurately gauge equal dislike if the questions were so black and white.

Eiji: "There are a lot of people who hate Abe in Japan, but if a "foreigner" hates him then he's an "Abe-basher". I'd say, stop this kind of reactionary thinking."

But that's the way it is for people who cannot make a valid retort. You point out you don't like some element of the culture, a comedian, a band, politician, or what have you, and when the other party cannot argue back they just call you "J-basher", or in this case, "Abe-basher". The next step down, which they inevitably fall to despite you correctly saying there are many Japanese who don't like Abe, is 'if you don't like it, leave'. The truth to Abe's "Abenomics" will be seen soon enough.

The problem here is not Japan or the Japanese people, or necessarily all previous Japanese leaders. There has been a lot of repenting, repairing and good done by previous Japanese Prime ministers and govt. The problem here is that Abe is intent on undoing all the good that has previously been done by Japanese Leaders and appears to be on a trail of destruction at any cost.

Pa-the-tic!

Is that really all Sk politics is about? Kicking Japan at every opportunity? Badmouthing Abe and any other Japanese politician who pokes his nose out of the door? Worse still, to have Abe on the same level as the quite barking Kim Jong-Un, the psycho who had his own uncle executed/fed to dogs is clearly designed to wind Japan up.

Is it just me or are SK and China trying tp provoke an outburst from Japan so they can then say "Look! We told you they hadn't changed!" I can't see any other reason for these childish slurs and snide attacks.

Abe deserves to be bad mouthed. He's the enemy of Asia and Japan.

Let's say you disagree with every single thing that Abe has said, done and says he stands for. Even then, I think that it is really off the charts to say that he is anything like the horribly repressive regime that is the North Korean 'government'. It is incomprehensible that South Koreans could even consider comparing the two. Have things changed so much there that they are no longer aware of what is going on north of their own border?

How can anyone play lip-service to such surreal ideas?

I wish there was an international poll that ranks the current prime ministers and their efficiency. I can admit that Korea is biased and tend to favour North Korea since it is still technically the part of Korea.

Is that really all Sk politics is about? Kicking Japan at every opportunity? Badmouthing Abe and any other Japanese politician who pokes his nose out of the door?

Isn't LDP basically doing the same?

The Asian think tank in SK could find something more constructive and productive to do than producing and publishing poll results that add to an already bad situation. I think also to have a totally biased 'one eyed' point of view towards either one side or the other doesn't add any value to the current situation and detracts from some of the more balanced and intelligent posts that are on JPT.

@chucky3176

Ask the Japanese in a poll, which country they like better, North or South Korea. I'm pretty sure there won't be much difference between the two, when it comes to Japanese opinion. The feeling is mutual, don't kid yourself.

Thats a joke , Korean wave managed to succeed outside because he had huge support in Japan, didnt Korean dramas and music roamed in Japan ? Is that the result of hateful country ? I cant imagine anywhere in the world that foreign musicians so much occupy other country media as Koreans did in Japan .And oyu didnt even realise that they let that because , in that way, they wanted to help you, and to repay to you for all bad things they did to you,and they even believed that you , coming into their country , you fogiven to them , but no, you still hated them , and you still worked against Japan .Also, so many Japan firms helped Korean ones, also hoping that you would see that as a way to repay their bad doings, bot no, you all casted that away So, telling me that Japan think the same of North and South Korea is propostous , while on other hand , Japan is always No1 hated country in Korea , even before Abe coming in positions, because of anti Japan education , and I believe that Koreans have greater hatred than Chinese have toward Japan, because , people in Hong Kong , Taiwan, they dont have that hate , so, I still believe , at some point, that , if Chinese goverment would be at some point changed for democratic one, it would stop with hostilities toward Japan, but Korean goverment has idea of totally eliminating Japan and Japan culture from world, first, they got this chosun ninja who say ninja came from Korea , then they say how sword art came from Korea ( because , Koreans had sword art thousands of years ago, but they forgoted , andJapanese taken that from them ) , Kendo also Korean , and Katana also Korean, so, I see one patern , organized orchestrated lies , all in the mission of totally eliminating Japan culture and identity .

Abe as unpopular as Kim Jong-Un, S Korean poll shows

Just goes to show the power of state run propaganda has over the masses.

I found an interesting, more detailed joint survey about how Japan and Korea feel about each other. It shows the complex nature of their relationship.

it is long, but interesting if any one wants to check it out. http://www.genron-npo.net/english/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50:the-1st-japan-south-korea-common-opinion-poll-&catid=2:research&Itemid=4

Thunderbird: "Is it just me or are SK and China trying tp provoke an outburst from Japan so they can then say "Look! We told you they hadn't changed!" I can't see any other reason for these childish slurs and snide attacks."

You want me to get you a mirror? Japan is as guilty as any other in all the things you said, as is your comment itself. Or wait... Do you not 'bad mouth (China/SK) at every opportunity' and never make 'snide remarks?' let me guess... "it's different".

justbcuzisay

it is long, but interesting if any one wants to check it out. http://www.genron-npo.net/english/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50:the-1st-japan-south-korea-common-opinion-poll-&catid=2:research&Itemid=4

That IS interesting. It seems that the main reason that they hate each other is mostly political: Unresolved historical issues and Dokdo/Takeshima dispute (shaking my head...). It's obvious that the animosity that they have toward each other is mostly artificially made/enhanced through politics.

I think it's really rather pathetic that both Japan and Korea care more about the Dokdo/Takeshima issue over anything else, but on the other hand it just goes to show that either populace in either countries are simply going with whatever that is told through the media/politics.

But it really boils down to mostly misunderstandings and lack of proper understanding of one another. This could be improved through better education and better media coverage of either countries.

I hope that some skillful politicians and diplomats can mend the relations in the future, just as France and Germany had done it after the war.

UpgrayeddFeb. 13, 2014 - 04:00PM JST

There was a dispute on the ownership of the island before 1905.

Which island is in your mind? You must be confused with Ulleongdo. Yes, there was a dispute on Ulleongdo because the Japanese trespassed on Ulleongdo for the illegal lumbering and fishing under the protection of Japanese government. There was no dispute on Dokdo at that time, however, Japanese illegal incorporation of Dokdo was the result of Japanese invasion of Ulleongdo because Japanese illegal passage to Ulloengdo was followed by their use of Dokdo.

South Korea could have brought the issue up in international court and both sides could have argued their points in front of impartial mediators and judges.

I wonder where you heard such a made-up story. The Japanese government did not inquire Korean government about the ownership of Dokdo, nor notify its incorporation of Dokdo afterwards. Besides, The Japanese government did not announce its incorporation of Dokdo in the official gazette, nor make a public announcement on the central government level. Why did Japanese government incorporate Dokdo in a clandestine manner if they were honest? Korea learned of the Japan’s incorporation one year later in 1906 from the Japanese officials from Shimane Prefecture who unexpected visited Ulleongdo. Uldo Governor reported Dokdo belonging his county became Japanese land to the Korean central government and Korean government issued an order to investigate the situation, however no further action was taken because Japan already deprived Korea of diplomatic right.

Yes, Japanese false claim over Dokdo is definitely the main and serious obstacle to the relations of Korea and Japan. Yes, recent Japanese government’s instruction to teach the Japanese young generation Dokdo belongs to Japan is the example of its refuse to shed its imperialist past.

What either country can do is to not teach that the Takeshima/Dokdo is "theirs", bur rather they could teach that it's disputed, and perhaps make them think about how the problem could be solved constructively, rather than expecting blind obedience by appealing to nationalist sentiments.

I think the key information to here is that half the South Korean population want to see a South Korea-Japan summit and nearly 60% want to see President Park become more proactive in South Korea / Japan relations.

After all, Japan is a democracy whereas North Korea is not. And didn't North Korea sink a South Korean ship with a torpedo just a few years ago, not to metion attacking one of South Korea's islands with missiles. Park needs to get her priorities right.

smithinjapanFEB. 13, 2014 - 11:10AM JST Well he's proving to be much the same as Kim, at least in terms of thinking, so this is not a surprise.

Last time I checked Abe was not having people shot en mass, imprisoning 10'000s of his countrymen and women for no real reason, not threading to destroy countries with nuclear weapons and starving 100,000's of people to death while his family and close go to Disneyland and expensive private schools in Europe.

And I don't think he is thinking those things either.

How about Shinzo Abe punch bags and pin cushions? They should sell really well both in South Korea and China.

@Smith

You want me to get you a mirror? Japan is as guilty as any other in all the things you said, as is your comment itself. Or wait... Do you not 'bad mouth (China/SK) at every opportunity' and never make 'snide remarks?' let me guess... "it's different".

I badmouth China and SK for a reason - they won't stop trying to provoke Japan. Yes Abe goes to Yasukune... ne probably always will. Yes some right wing nutters try to deny or change events which took place in WW2, but I don't hear Abe calling the Chinese politicians characters from Harry Potter novels. I don't see Abe turning down meetings with SK's Park or the Chinese. When was the last time a leading Japanese newspaper carried headlines about Park being a warmonger? I'm no fan of Abe, but at least he makes overtures... overtures which are then thrown back in his face.

I am no fan of Abe, but worse than the fat little homicidal tyrant in North Korea?? In what universe? That is insane.

Frankly, I'd be concerned if Abe was more favorable than Kim. This is the way it should be. Korea's household debt is at an all time high and at the same time, under the IMF stress test. No more currency swap and bail out. Lesson learned from the past mistakes.

Nationalism rises high. Koreans are historically oppressed by its bigger neighbors: China, Russia, Japan. It's a small ethnic nation that has a dire need for some pride, after centuries of . Kim Jong Un, is at least a Korean, whereas Abe, at least in his attitude and policies, represents the oppressor.

Thunderbird2FEB. 13, 2014 - 10:41PM JST I badmouth China and SK for a reason

That's what you gonna do anyway with or without reason. Abe does overture after doing something unadvisable like let his subordinate blubber or defending his decision. We know how oversensitive China and SK are but Japanese Right-winger doesn't get that.

Japan is hardly beloved in any Asian country, given that country's militaristic past

Depends what you mean by "beloved", but apart from China and Korea, Japan is viewed relatively positively elsewhere in Asia, despite the war crimes. People there have moved on.

I think this poll says something about Korean politics. For all of Abe's failings, these poll results seem childish. People there need to get some perspective. Maybe this is one reason why relations with the North aren't resolved, because South Korea keeps giving in eventually to aggression from the North and forgiving it, rather than showing that bad behaviour has consequences.

Abe is as hateful to Koreans and Chinese as are the nationalists in Indonesia to Singaporeans. These people just named a naval ship to honor 2 terrorists who bombed innocent people in Singapore 48 years ago. They claimed that they meant no malice with the naming. Can you see the parallel with Abe's actions of honoring war criminals!

In Korea, it's very strange for somebody to say they like Japan.

It is. They just have done their utmost best to copy, or should I say emulate, things Japanese, e.g. its industries, its pop culture, its fashion, etc.

. In Korea, it's very strange for somebody to say they like Japan.

It may be strange but between two and three million Koreans visit Japan every year.

The idiot nationalism is strong in this one...

I have never seen average Koreans and Japanese hating each other... Normally I think they get along very well and highly respect each others culture. It's only when it comes to Conservative Leaders and Nationalist on both sides going crazy... although current ABE admin has been too extreme lately.