This undated photo shows the Chinese Embassy in Seoul. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, June 20 (Korea Bizwire) – A majority of Koreans show little trust in China amid the deepening of Seoul-Beijing conflict following a controversial remark made by China’s Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming, a poll showed Monday.
According to a survey conducted by a civic media group Barun Media Citizen Action, among Korean adults aged 18 and above, 76 percent expressed their lack of trust in China as a strategic partner.
The percentage of respondents who expressed trust in China remained low at 20 percent.
Concerning the remarks made by the Chinese ambassador, 74 percent of the participants deemed them inappropriate, significantly higher than the 20 percent who considered them appropriate.
When asked about the appropriate response from the South Korean government regarding the Chinese ambassador’s remarks, 43 percent suggested issuing a stern caution to him.
Another 22 percent recommended expelling him, while 19 percent believed no action was necessary. Nine percent suggested accepting the Chinese government’s decision.
Regarding the recent visit of Democratic Party lawmakers to China, after being invited by Beijing, 45 percent of the respondents viewed it as an inappropriate behavior contradicting the government’s diplomatic stance.
In contrast, 43 percent considered it an appropriate action, seeing it as the main opposition party carrying out independent diplomatic activities.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
