[Public Opinion Brief 51-2] Characteristics of Korean Perceptions of the U.S.: Coexistence of Trust and Distrust

[Public Opinion Brief No. 51] The Obama Era: Global Public Opinion's Expectations and Concerns Regarding the U.S.

1. The Obama Era: Coexistence of Expectations and Concerns Regarding New U.S. Leadership

2. Characteristics of Korean Perceptions of the U.S.: Coexistence of Trust and Distrust

Trust in U.S. leadership highest in the last 5 years among Koreans; Obama's trust rating 88% (4th), U.S. leadership trust rating 68% (3rd)

U.S. foreign policy evaluation shows high levels of both expectations and concerns.

Korean perceptions of the U.S. also show a pattern similar to that of citizens in other countries. While there is a positive evaluation based on traditional alliance relations, there is a dual aspect of wariness towards the U.S. Koreans evaluate President Obama and the U.S.'s role as a global leader positively, while simultaneously holding a negative perception that the U.S. is fixated on its own national interests.

Koreans have a high level of trust in U.S. President Barack Obama. The trust rating for President Obama was 88%, indicating that 9 out of 10 Koreans trust President Obama. This figure is the fourth highest among the 20 surveyed countries, following Kenya (95%), the United Kingdom (92%), and Germany (89%). Compared to the trust rating of 30% for President Bush last year, this demonstrates the high expectations for President Obama's leadership.

Evaluation of human rights realization 82% (1st), positive on climate change response 67% (3rd).
Cooperative stance in foreign relations 63% (7th)

vs. U.S. will use military threat 92% (1st), unfairness in ROK-U.S. relations 81% (5th), U.S. does not comply with international law 75% (5th)

Notably, the perception that the U.S. is a country that respects human rights (82%) was very high. This can be seen as the best evaluation among the surveyed countries. More than two-thirds of Koreans evaluate the U.S.'s leadership role in the international community positively. While 68% responded that the U.S.'s role in the international community is "generally positive," 29% responded that it is "generally negative." This is the highest positive evaluation of the U.S. since the survey on the same question began in 2004. More than two-thirds also support the U.S.'s approach to climate change (67%). The proportion of Koreans who positively evaluate the U.S.'s international role and its approach to climate change ranks third, following Kenya and Nigeria, respectively. The perception that the U.S. is generally cooperative (63%) in its relations with other countries was also strong.

Koreans also hold a strong critical perception that the U.S. is fixated on its own national interests. Nine out of ten people (92%) believe that the U.S. uses military threats for its own interests. This is the highest figure among the 20 countries surveyed. Only 7% responded that military threats would be excluded. In particular, 81% of Koreans show a wary attitude, believing that the U.S. unfairly abuses its power for its own interests in its relations with South Korea. Only 17% responded that it is fair. The same applies to compliance with international law. A majority of the public (75%) believes that the U.S. is hypocritical, demanding that other countries comply with international law while not adhering to it itself (5th overall).

[Figure 1] Evaluation of U.S. International Role and Presidents Bush/Obama's Leadership: Trust (2004-2009)

[Figure 2] Koreans' Positive Evaluation of U.S. Foreign Policy by Sector (%)