"Independent in Culture, Dependent in Diplomacy?"... South Koreans Rate National Independence at 60.9 on March 1st Movement Anniversary

Sasanggye Relaunched: Survey of 1,000 Respondents
Cultural Independence Scores 62.9 vs. Diplomatic Independence at 46.1

In a survey conducted to mark the 107th anniversary of the March 1st Movement, South Koreans rated the country's level of cultural independence highly, but maintained a critical view that the nation remains 'dependent' in the field of diplomacy.

Sasanggae, republished in April 2025. Sasanggae website.

According to the results released on March 1 by the bimonthly magazine Sasanggye, which surveyed 1,000 adults nationwide, South Korea's overall independence score in 2026 averaged 60.9 points.

By category, cultural independence received the highest score at 62.9 points, whereas diplomatic independence was rated at just 46.1 points, highlighting the contrast. This suggests that while the Korean public perceives their country as a cultural powerhouse, they still view it as a minor or dependent state in diplomatic matters.

By age group, those in their 20s gave an average independence score of 54.0 points, significantly lower than those in their 50s (65.8 points). In particular, only 11.5% of respondents in their 20s described South Korea as 'autonomous' in diplomatic affairs. In the area of security, men (57.1 points) tended to rate the level of independence higher than women (46.2 points).

Respondents who gave low ratings for independence cited the following main reasons: ▲ catering to the interests of major powers (66.2%) and ▲ partisan conflict taking precedence over national interests (42.3%). Tasks cited as necessary for achieving genuine national independence included political integration, securing economic sovereignty, balanced diplomacy, and regaining wartime operational control.

Sasanggye, which oversaw this survey, is a prestigious intellectual magazine founded by the late Jang Junha. After leading social discourse until it ceased publication in 1970, it was relaunched last year after a 55-year hiatus. Starting this year, it is published bimonthly and continues to serve as an intellectual indicator for Korean society.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.