[Public Opinion Briefing 12-2] Unsubstantial ROK-US Relations

[Public Opinion Briefing 12] The US's Benevolent Leadership

[Topic 1] The World Desires America's "Benevolent Leadership"

[Topic 2] Unsubstantial ROK-US Relations

Topic 2. Unsubstantial ROK-US Relations
□ Among 11 surveyed countries, 10 countries perceive their relationship with the US favorably, even while criticizing it.

□ Korean public largely evaluates the current situation as unchanged, with the ROK-US relationship ranked first for worsening and last for improving.

Average of 10 countries excluding Korea: 37% improved relations > 14% worsened, 34% unchanged.

ROK-US relations: 10% improved < 34% worsened, 56% unchanged.

In most countries around the world, while criticism of the United States has intensified, the perception that relations between their own country and the US have worsened has remained a minority opinion. When asked to evaluate the diplomatic relationship between their country and the US, 11 out of 12 surveyed countries reported that relations have improved rather than worsened. The average response across these 11 countries indicated that 37% believed relations had improved, followed by 34% who felt they remained unchanged. In contrast, only 14% perceived a deterioration in relations with the US.



Even in countries like China, which has fueled concerns about conflict with the so-called "China threat" theory in the US, and Russia, which has frequently confronted the US under the Putin administration, the proportion of public opinion viewing relations as improved exceeded that of those viewing them as worsened. It is surprising that as many as 53% of Chinese citizens, who hold nationalistic anti-American sentiments, responded that US-China relations have improved. This can be interpreted as a result of the Chinese government's consistent pursuit of a cooperative strategy with the US, despite emotional antipathy and distrust towards US foreign policy.
In Russia, the proportion of public opinion viewing relations as improved was 28%, slightly higher than the 20% who saw them as worsened. Meanwhile, South Koreans' assessment of ROK-US relations is cynical. Only 10% of respondents believed relations with the US had improved, the lowest among all 12 surveyed countries, while 34% believed they had worsened, the highest figure among all countries.



Conversely, from the perspective of the American public regarding relations with major countries, ROK-US relations are cited as a prime example of deterioration, alongside US-Mexico relations. 30% of Americans believe US-China relations have improved, while only 17% believe they have worsened. Perceptions of US-India relations were similar to those of US-China relations, and for US-Japan relations, 30% responded that relations had improved, with only 9% believing they had worsened. However, for relations with Mexico and South Korea, the proportion of respondents who believed relations had improved was about half that of China, India, and Japan, at 17% and 15% respectively. Conversely, the proportion of those who believed relations had worsened was higher compared to these three countries.



Both the ROK and US governments officially assert that despite numerous twists and turns over the past four years, they have reached significant agreements on major diplomatic issues such as the realignment of US Forces Korea, the North Korean nuclear issue, and the FTA, moving beyond the transformation of the alliance to its expansion. At the very least, the publics of both nations are not fully accepting their governments' optimism. South Korea's Roh Moo-hyun administration and the Bush administration can both argue that it is the duty of a national leader to pursue unpopular policies for the sake of their nation's interests. While such arguments may be valid, it is undeniable that they have been engaged in an insubstantial game.

[Table 1] Assessment of Relations Between [Surveyed Countries] and the US by Citizens of 11 Countries

Source: EAI·CCGA (2007)
Note 1) Don't know/No response are not indicated.

[Table 2] Assessment of Relations Between the US and Major Countries by the American Public

Source: EAI·CCGA (2007)
Note 1) Don't know/No response are not indicated.