South Koreans’ favorable views of the United States have dropped to their lowest level in more than 20 years, according to a recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center. The poll, released on August 24, found that 55 percent of South Koreans held an unfavorable opinion of the US, a significant increase from 39 percent in 2025, while only 45 percent expressed a positive view.
Despite this decline, the majority of respondents continue to regard the US as a key security partner, especially in deterring the nuclear threat posed by North Korea. The survey, which collected responses from 1,045 South Koreans between March 3 and April 4, was part of Pew’s broader Global Attitudes Survey covering 36 countries worldwide.
The shift in sentiment aligns with a broader global trend noted in the survey, with China surpassing the US in favorability ratings in 25 of the 36 countries surveyed. Nevertheless, South Korea remains among six nations—including Japan, the Philippines, Poland, Israel, and India—where the US is still viewed more positively than China.
The decline in South Korean sentiment toward the US has coincided with a period of strained bilateral relations since Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025. Trump reignited longstanding disputes over South Korea’s financial contributions to the US military presence on the Korean Peninsula. Relations further deteriorated following a September 2025 immigration raid at a Hyundai factory in Georgia that led to the detention of hundreds of South Korean workers.
Additional sources of tension include US frustration over Seoul’s slow progress in delivering a US$350 billion investment pledge under a tariff deal reached in November 2025, as well as perceived inadequate support from South Korea in the US-led campaign against Iran and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. On August 7, Trump ordered a substantial reduction in joint US-South Korea military exercises, calling them costly and a hostile signal to North Korea.
Public opinion in South Korea reflects dissatisfaction with Trump’s handling of trade and foreign policy. The Pew survey found that 85 percent disapproved of his approach to tariffs, and about 75 percent disapproved of his management of relations with Iran.
Experts attribute the deepening negative views to an accumulation of various issues over time rather than a single event. James Kim, director of the Korea Program at the Stimson Center, noted that the deteriorating relationship since early 2025 has contributed to changing public perceptions.
South Korean respondents also highlighted a growing sense that US foreign policy under Trump has become more transactional and nationalist. David Shin, a finance professional with prior experience working in the US, remarked that while Trump does not represent all Americans, elements of his worldview have become normalized in American society.
Nevertheless, 84 percent of South Koreans still identify the US as their country’s most important ally. Analysts suggest this reflects an acknowledgment of the strategic necessity of the US alliance, albeit with reservations. Terry Choi, a South Korean with extensive experience living in the US, emphasized that Seoul must better understand Washington’s national interests to navigate the shifting geopolitical and economic landscape. She also criticized South Korea’s current government for inadequately responding to these challenges, stressing the need for the country to assume greater responsibility as a developed democracy.