Simply 20 years in the past, many South Koreans considered China favorably whereas eyeing the US with a level of skepticism. Immediately, the tables have turned — round 70 to 80 % of South Koreans now maintain unfavorable views of China, marking a putting reversal in public sentiment.
Specialists at a Korea-China relations discussion board in Seoul final week highlighted this stark shift, emphasizing the necessity for larger efforts from the Chinese language authorities to enhance its picture in South Korea.
On the discussion board, co-hosted by the Seoul-based Institute for World Technique and Cooperation and the Beijing-based World Governance Establishment, specialists acknowledged that the detrimental sentiment towards China at the moment permeating South Korean society is a urgent difficulty. They careworn the significance of increasing cooperation and rebuilding mutual belief.
A ballot launched earlier this yr by the Institute for Future Technique at Seoul Nationwide College and the Chosun Ilbo discovered that youthful South Koreans maintain overwhelmingly detrimental views of China, rating it solely marginally above North Korea. Whereas greater than 40 % of respondents throughout all age teams noticed China as a possible accomplice, that share dropped to roughly 30 % amongst these of their 20s and 30s.
Lee Min-ja, a professor at Seoul Digital College, mentioned the overwhelmingly unfavorable views of China amongst South Korea’s youthful technology pose a severe problem.
To sort out this difficulty, Lee emphasised the necessity to transfer past the Hallyu restrictions and resume cultural exchanges between the 2 international locations, whereas increasing university-level exchanges to enhance perceptions and nurture mutual understanding.
Lee Moon-ki, a professor at Sejong College, pointed to a rising concern over the rise of indiscriminate hostility and xenophobia towards China, fueled by far-right political forces in South Korea.
These teams have moved past mere criticism of China, staging anti-China protests throughout Seoul and even gathering in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, throughout Chinese language President Xi Jinping’s go to two weeks in the past to voice their dissatisfaction.
Anti-China protesters maintain South Korean and U.S. flags outdoors an air base at Gimhae Worldwide Airport in Busan on Oct. 30, 2025, as Chinese language President Xi Jinping arrives for the Asia-Pacific Financial Cooperation summit. AFP-Jung Yeon-je
The protests are rooted in lingering resentment over Beijing’s financial retaliation following South Korea’s 2016 deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system, in addition to conservative help for former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
In response, President Lee Jae Myung has ordered sturdy measures to curb anti-China rallies and hate speech. Specialists imagine this transfer might assist ease the state of affairs, noting that far-right teams signify solely a small section of South Korean society.
“Nevertheless, the deeper difficulty lies in managing the widespread detrimental emotions that the majority Koreans proceed to carry towards China,” Lee Moon-ki mentioned, calling for motion not solely from the Korean authorities, academia and media, but additionally from the Chinese language authorities, which he careworn must basically reassess its diplomatic messaging and outreach.
Citing moments equivalent to Xi’s reward for Hwangnam bread, a well-known conventional Korean pastry and signature native specialty of Gyeongju, and his lighthearted quips about Xiaomi telephones and software program safety, Lee mentioned these encounters left many South Koreans with a good impression and briefly buoyed China’s picture.
“Though spontaneous, it exemplifies the type of well-calculated, human contact that China’s diplomacy towards Korea might significantly profit from deliberately incorporating sooner or later.”
He additionally urged Beijing to undertake “a whole evaluate of its Korea-related public diplomacy” and to deeply analyze why Koreans these days really feel so resentful in the direction of China, so it will probably make additional changes to its public diplomacy.
President Lee Jae Myung smiles along with his Chinese language counterpart Xi Jinping throughout a banquet at Lahan Choose Gyeongju in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. Courtesy of presidential workplace
In the meantime, specialists on the discussion board emphasised that addressing detrimental perceptions requires not solely concrete efforts but additionally the correct and efficient administration of bilateral issues, which might play a key function in enhancing China’s picture in South Korea.
Hong Hyun-ik, senior fellow on the Sejong Institute and former chancellor of the Korea Nationwide Diplomatic Academy, emphasised that the Lee administration’s proactive and balanced strategy to enhancing inter-Korean relations presents a possibility for China to tackle a extra constructive function.
“If China have been to encourage North Korea to chorus from provocations and even halt sure army developments, it might significantly contribute to stabilizing the area,” he mentioned. “Such actions would additionally assist enhance Korean public perceptions of China and strengthen bilateral belief.”
Hong additionally added that mutual belief may very well be improved if Beijing took stronger measures to manage Chinese language fishermen’s conduct within the West Sea.
Alyssa Chen is a reporter with the South China Morning Publish. She is at the moment primarily based in Seoul, writing for each The Korea Instances and the South China Morning Publish underneath an trade program.
