Anti-Americanism you say?

by Andy Jackson on August 5, 2008

in ROK-US Issues

Perhaps, there is more love between the USA and Korea than many of us thought (Korea Times):

Public sentiment is largely tilting pro-American in South Korea, despite the months-long street protests, according to reports.

The Pew Global Attitudes Project reported in June that about 70 percent of South Koreans favored the United States, up from 58 percent in 2007.

Here is a link to the original report. That 70% favorable rating for the US is the highest of any of the 21 countries were the survey was taken.

BTW, what’s up with those ingrate Japanese? Don’t they remember how we saved their butts back in… oh, wait.

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Travellers’ Tales - The FEER Blog » Blog Archive » The Hermit Kingdom, Yes and No
August 5, 2008 at 10:20 pm

{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Anunsaram August 5, 2008 at 8:31 pm

When Koreans start cozying up to Americans, all I can say is watch your wallet. Also, if this news is true, we must be doing something wrong !

2 R. Elgin August 5, 2008 at 8:50 pm

Well, I am pro-people, thus pro-Korean so it’s all good.

3 Kim August 5, 2008 at 9:09 pm

I don’t believe it. Especially after the beef protests. Japan hasn’t done a protest over a stupid thing, at least.

4 Tripod August 5, 2008 at 9:19 pm

Maybe too good to be true?

“However, the survey of more than 24,000 people in 24 countries, conducted March 17 to April 21…”

March to April. Things only started to get out of hand in May.

5 Shunyata August 5, 2008 at 10:04 pm

Long live the US-Korea Alliance!

6 Benicio74 August 5, 2008 at 10:11 pm

Take it with a grain of salt.

Experience makes me a cynic.

7 Billy August 5, 2008 at 10:16 pm

7/10 at home, drinking soju, watching protests on TV and 3/10 going to, at, or leaving protests.

That sounds about right, doesn’t it?

The abnormally loud minority?

8 Shunyata August 5, 2008 at 10:26 pm

Billy, I greatly admire the Korean protestors even if the subject of the protest is a bit ridiculous. There are a growing number of protests in the US as well (protesting against the war on Iraq, foreclosure debacle, etc), but the numbers are really small compared to their counterparts in Korea.
Another thing is the US media effectively censors out these protests. Only if a few annoying candle protests in the US can end the war in Iraq, lead to jailing all the corrupt Banksters and other carpet baggers, etc….

9 Park Hyun August 5, 2008 at 10:43 pm

I really wish reporters in Korea would try a little harder to conceal their plagiarism:

USA Today:
“Public sentiment is largely tilting pro-American, despite the street protests. The Pew Global Attitudes Project reported in June that 70% of South Koreans have a favorable view of the United States, up from 58% in 2007.”
http://www.usatoday.com/news/w.....trip_N.htm

Korea Times (no attribution):

“Public sentiment is largely tilting pro-American in South Korea, despite the months-long street protests, according to reports.

“The Pew Global Attitudes Project reported in June that about 70 percent of South Koreans favored the United States, up from 58 percent in 2007.”
http://koreatimes.co.kr/www/ne.....28738.html

Uh, a-hem…
http://www.park-hyun.com/park_.....erica.html

10 Maddlew August 6, 2008 at 7:59 am

Shunyata, you’re certainly entitled to your opinion. I see nothing redeeming in particularly the leaders of these protests. My sense is of a group of people who are insecure and stridently self-indugent. They are like the disruptive child in class whose antics are repeatedly towards a simple goal, “Please pay attention to me!” Not a single of the issues their tantrums aim to achieve are beneficial to Korea as a whole. Extremely self-serving humans.

11 WangKon936 August 6, 2008 at 8:28 am

IMHO, Korean’s anti-american bark is a lot worse than its bite.

I blame Korea’s liberal education system. All teachers should spend 6 months in North Korea…

12 NES August 6, 2008 at 8:34 am

Public sentiment is largely tilting pro-American in South Korea, despite the months-long street protests, according to reports.

“Despite” or “because of?”

13 congee August 6, 2008 at 9:59 am

Hey guys, “anti american” sentiment is not unique to Koreans. It’s prevalent in every country I’ve been to.

14 Brendon Carr (Korea Law Blog) August 6, 2008 at 10:06 am

When Koreans start cozying up to Americans, all I can say is watch your wallet. Also, if this news is true, we must be doing something wrong!

This is my feeling too — I see the hand of a government public-relations effort to keep Uncle Sucker subsidizing the Korean state by maintaining the defense commitment well past its sell-by date.

15 NES August 6, 2008 at 10:38 am

@14 Brendon

This is my feeling too — I see the hand of a government public-relations effort to keep Uncle Sucker subsidizing the Korean state by maintaining the defense commitment well past its sell-by date.

I can almost smell that expired, opened can of 꽁치…

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