Jeju Peace Institute

National image is an aggregate conception that other governments and peoples have toward a given nation. It affects not only the competitiveness of a nation but also its efforts toward international cooperation in a significant way. Despite such importance, national image has hardly been addressed theoretically in the field of international relations. Thus, little is known about how national image is formed and altered, what practical impacts it has, and how best they can be utilized. Moreover, there is a dearth of empirical studies on the contents and features of the national image of Korea as perceived by the outside world. The same is true for empirical studies on the contents and features of the national images of foreign countries as perceived by Koreans. Therefore, this study aims at making contributions to easing the shortage of theoretical and empirical studies in Korea regarding national image by presenting data that the government can refer to for the establishment of national strategies in the area. Contents I. Introduction II. Middle Power Diplomacy III. Strategies to Boost National Integrity IV. Conclusions and Implications