• Survey Research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.43-66
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• 2007

This study attempts to identify the problems in applying the deliberative polling method within the Korean cultural context. The deliberative polling method uses information distribution and group discussion to encourage the poll participants to be informed on and deliberate the issues, so that they may express their elaborate informed opinions when surveyed after discussion. One of the criticisms is that having all the poll participants assemble in one location may result in lower level of poll participation and accordingly a less representative sample. Also, the assumption that group discussion will bring about deliberation has not been tested. Some research suggests that in certain Asian cultures, group discussion is not widely used for conflict resolution or consensus building. Thus this study proposes that the mere utilization of a group discussion method does not necessarily imply that the participants have actually deliberated the issues. A telephone survey of one thousand Koreans over the age of 20 was conducted. The survey results show that group discussion is not a common way to discuss controversial issues in Korea, and would contribute to a low participation rate. It is the conclusion of this study that alternative deliberation methods need to be developed.