Summary
An increase in expressions of anti-American sentiment among South Koreans
led, in the spring and summer of 2002, to heightened concern among many
observers of South Korea (the Republic of Korea, or ROK) that a pillar of the U.S.-
South Korean alliance—a strong belief among South Koreans in the continued
importance of the U.S.-ROK alliance and an equally strong commitment to its
continuation—might be in jeopardy.
This study’s focus on favorable and unfavorable sentiment toward the U.S.
within the South Korean mass public does not in any way challenge the
proposition that most South Korean political and military leaders—as stewards
of a now 50-year alliance with the U.S.—remain committed to a healthy and
strong bilateral relationship with the U.S. The extent to which ordinary South
Koreans may be less committed, however, is of obvious policy interest both to
the U.S. and to them as well, because democratic theory—and historical
experience—suggest that leadership often is needed to build and sustain support
for contentious policies, and that public support is needed to sustain policies
over the long run.
The RAND Corporation conducted an empirical study of the matter, addressing
three key policy-relevant questions:
(1) What are the trends in South Koreans’ attitudes toward the United States and
is the conventional wisdom that they recently have deteriorated correct?
(2) What are the sources of South Korean attitudes toward the U.S., and what
are their trends over time?
(3) What are the implications of these trends for U.S. policy toward Korea and
larger security interests?
To address these questions, we conducted a qualitative analysis of the historical
context for South Koreans’ attitudes toward the U.S., and quantitative analyses of
the available public opinion data on the matter.
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