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South Koreans Show Growing Unfavorable Views of US
(MENAFN) A majority of South Koreans now hold a negative opinion of the United States for the first time in more than two decades, according to a recent survey.
The poll found that 55% of respondents viewed the US unfavorably, representing a significant increase from 39% recorded the previous year. The share expressing a "very unfavorable view" also doubled, reaching 18% compared with 9% in 2025.
Meanwhile, 45% of South Koreans said they had a favorable impression of the US. That figure marks a 16-point decline from 61% a year earlier and is 35 points lower than the level recorded in 2018, when favorable sentiment reached 80% during the second year of US President Donald Trump’s first term.
The changing public mood comes as the US maintains a military presence in South Korea under the countries’ defense alliance. Washington has approximately 39,000 troops stationed in the country, while Trump has recently directed the Pentagon to reduce the scale of annual joint military exercises with Seoul.
Against this backdrop, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has continued advocating for greater military self-reliance and reduced dependence on Washington for the country’s defense.
Despite the increasingly negative perception of the US, 57% of South Korean adults still regard Washington as a dependable partner. However, that proportion has fallen considerably from 83% in 2022, during the administration of former US President Joe Biden.
The poll found that 55% of respondents viewed the US unfavorably, representing a significant increase from 39% recorded the previous year. The share expressing a "very unfavorable view" also doubled, reaching 18% compared with 9% in 2025.
Meanwhile, 45% of South Koreans said they had a favorable impression of the US. That figure marks a 16-point decline from 61% a year earlier and is 35 points lower than the level recorded in 2018, when favorable sentiment reached 80% during the second year of US President Donald Trump’s first term.
The changing public mood comes as the US maintains a military presence in South Korea under the countries’ defense alliance. Washington has approximately 39,000 troops stationed in the country, while Trump has recently directed the Pentagon to reduce the scale of annual joint military exercises with Seoul.
Against this backdrop, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has continued advocating for greater military self-reliance and reduced dependence on Washington for the country’s defense.
Despite the increasingly negative perception of the US, 57% of South Korean adults still regard Washington as a dependable partner. However, that proportion has fallen considerably from 83% in 2022, during the administration of former US President Joe Biden.
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