Clued-in | Why South Koreans' negative views of the U.S. have hit a record high

A poll of South Koreans released by the Pew Research Center on Aug. 24 found that 55 percent of respondents held an unfavorable view of the U.S., up 16 percentage points from 2025. It was the first time in the center's more than two decades of polling in South Korea that unfavorable views of the U.S. exceeded 50 percent. Analysts say the findings expose deeper problems in the South Korea-U.S. relationship.

U.S. trade protectionism and tariff policies have undermined mutual trust between South Korea and the U.S. Washington's tariffs have dealt a severe blow to key sectors of the South Korean economy, becoming a direct trigger for the sharp shift in public sentiment.

In January 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on social media that tariffs on South Korean exports of automobiles, timber and pharmaceuticals would be raised from 15 percent to 25 percent, citing the South Korean National Assembly's failure to approve the U.S.-South Korea trade deal.

The trade agreement framework reached by the two countries in July 2025 committed South Korea to investing $350 billion in the U.S. in exchange for lower U.S. tariffs. Yet Washington unilaterally overturned the agreement, citing "delays in South Korean legislation."

As an export-dependent economy, South Korea is highly vulnerable to tariffs, which directly affect business costs, employment prospects and industrial competitiveness. The poll also found that 85 percent of South Korean respondents opposed Trump's tariff policies, with 63 percent saying they "strongly opposed" them.

The U.S. approach to its alliance with South Korea has also raised deep concerns among the South Korean public. The South Korea-U.S. military alliance is the cornerstone of bilateral relations, but Trump has repeatedly used U.S. military protection of South Korea as leverage, fueling widespread discontent. The question increasingly asked in South Korea is no longer simply how much it should pay. It is whether the U.S. will show South Korea the respect and reciprocity it deserves, given the scale of Seoul's investments and the security responsibilities it has assumed.

In the summer of 2025, U.S. immigration authorities arrested and detained more than 300 South Korean employees of South Korean companies in the U.S., deepening confusion in South Korea.

What South Koreans expect is an alliance that is stable, predictable, mutually beneficial, respectful and backed by long-term security commitments. In recent years, however, the U.S. has increasingly linked tariffs and investment with defense and security issues, while repeatedly demanding that South Korea shoulder more costs and responsibilities.

Unilateral and hardline U.S. policies on regional issues, including Iran, have also affected South Korea's interests. Take the U.S. military strikes on Iran. The Middle East is not only a major source of South Korea's oil and gas imports but also an important market for South Korean exports. The prolonged U.S. military campaign against Iran has turned geopolitical conflict in the Middle East into higher prices, exchange rate pressures and security costs that South Koreans find increasingly difficult to bear.

South Korea imports about 2.82 million barrels of crude oil a day, with roughly 1.77 million barrels transported through the Strait of Hormuz, accounting for nearly 63 percent of its total crude oil imports. The conflict has driven up oil and natural gas prices, shipping costs and war insurance premiums, in turn raising prices for gasoline and diesel, electricity, air travel, logistics and everyday necessities.

As the U.S. is increasingly seen as a major source of international instability, concerns over security have deepened among South Koreans, along with doubts about America's role in the world.

South Koreans' feelings toward the U.S. are complex. While a majority now view the U.S. negatively, 84 percent still consider it "the most important ally," down from 89 percent in 2025. The shift shows that although the South Korea-U.S. military alliance remains intact, distrust of the U.S. has risen markedly, and cracks in the alliance are widening.

Whether Seoul and Washington can bridge this gap in public sentiment will depend on whether the U.S. can adjust its approach toward South Korea, show greater respect for its interests and offer more tangible benefits in sensitive areas such as trade and security.

Xing Liju is a professor at the Institute of International Studies and director of the Center for Korean Studies at Fudan University