This file photo shows the U.S. flag at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 13 (Korea Bizwire) — South Koreans have picked the U.S. as the most trustworthy country that they should engage in cooperation, while also identifying China and Japan as the least trusted states.
The Seoul National University Asia Center conducted a survey of 1,031 individuals to learn about their preferences towards 20 countries including the U.S., China, Japan and France.
At 71.6 percent, more than two-thirds of the respondents picked the U.S. as the most trustworthy state. Only 13.3 percent and 6.8 percent believed Japan and China to be trustworthy, making them the two least trusted countries among South Koreans.
Asked about South Korea’s most suitable partner for cooperation, 69.2 percent picked the United States. Only 6.9 percent and 6.5 percent picked China and North Korea. Japan was even lower at 1.1 percent.
The center asked the respondents to pick the ‘temperature of affection’ ranging between 0 and 100 degrees to measure their preference towards each of the 20 countries, with the U.S. scoring the ‘warmest temperature’ of 65.9 degrees.
China and North Korea scored 35.8 degrees and 33.8 degrees, respectively. Japan scored the lowest at 33.6 degrees.
“Anti-Chinese sentiments have grown since China began to encroach upon Korean history and impose restrictions on the Korean Wave,” said professor Kim Yong-ho who spearheaded the research.
“All indicators related to China’s reliability have turned out negatively.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
