Can China’s deepening image crisis in S. Korea be reversed?

Just two decades ago, many South Koreans viewed China favorably while eyeing the United States with a degree of skepticism. Today, the tables have turned — around 70 to 80 percent of South Koreans now hold unfavorable views of China, marking a striking reversal in public sentiment. Experts at a Korea-China relations forum in Seoul last week highlighted this stark shift, emphasizing the need for greater efforts from the Chinese government to improve its image in South Korea. At the forum, co-hosted by the Seoul-based Institute for Global Strategy and Cooperation and the Beijing-based Global Governance Institution, experts acknowledged that the negative sentiment toward China currently permeating South Korean society is a pressing issue. They stressed the importance of expanding cooperation and rebuilding mutual trust. A poll released earlier this year by the Institute for Future Strategy at Seoul National University and the Chosun Ilbo found that younger South Koreans hold overwhelmingly negative views of China, ranking it only marginally above North Korea. While more than 40 percent oWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times