South Korea and Japan have never had particularly cordial relations, despite their strong democratic institutions and alliances with the U.S. There are emerging signs of improvement, however, both on the official and popular levels. 

Polls suggest that publics in both countries would like to see better relations. While mutual levels of hostility remain high, this has declined over much of the past decade.

There are a few likely explanations for improved perceptions between the two countries. The first is Shinzo Abe’s retirement. He was a deeply unpopular prime minister in South Korea, routinely garnering 90% or more disapproval ratingsamong South