55 % of Koreans view US unfavorably, highest level in 20 years
A poll by a U.S. research institute found that 55 percent of Koreans have an unfavorable opinion of the United States, marking the first time in two decades that more than half of respondents have expressed a negative view of the country. The figure was even higher than that recorded following the 2002 deaths of middle school students Shin Hyo-sun and Shim Mi-seon, who were struck and killed by a…
A recent poll conducted by a U.S. research institute revealed that 55% of South Koreans hold an unfavorable view of the United States, a stark increase from 39% just one year ago. This marks the highest unfavorable sentiment towards the U.S. in two decades and surpasses the level of opposition recorded following the tragic deaths of two middle school students in 2002, who were killed by a U.S. military armored vehicle.
Despite this growing animosity, South Koreans continue to recognize the United States as their nation's most crucial ally. The Spring 2026 Global Attitudes Survey, released by the Pew Research Center, indicates that the proportion of respondents with a "very unfavorable" opinion of the U.S. has doubled, going from 9% last year to 18% this year.
Conversely, the number of those who view the U.S. favorably has dropped by 16 percentage points to 45%.
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- 55 % of Koreans view US unfavorably, highest level in 20 years koreatimes.co.kr
