Nearly half of Koreans disapprove of their country`s foreign policy: poll

By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- Nearly half of South Koreans think the morality
of their country's foreign policy is below average compared to other countries, a
survey showed Monday.
About 42 percent of Koreans said their country's foreign policy is below average,
with 46 percent saying about average and only 10 percent responding with above
average, according to the survey of 21,618 citizens of 21 countries conducted by
World Public Opinion for two months from June last year.
Mexico is the only country with a more negative attitude toward their country's
foreign policy, at 54 percent.
The pollster did not offer explanations for the results, but hinted that modesty
was a factor.
"The world is full of nationalistic people certain that their country is morally
superior to others, right?" the polling organization questioned. "Actually, a new
WorldPublicOpinion.org poll of 21 nations around the world finds that people can
be remarkably modest."
In contrast, only 16 percent of Americans said their country's foreign policy is
below average, with 49 percent saying about average and 24 percent above average.
The figures are remarkable considering the nosediving popularity of the U.S.
government in the global community due mainly to the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan, seen as a symbol of U.S. unilateralism in foreign policy.
About 28 percent of Korean respondents, meanwhile, said America's foreign policy
is below average while 25 percent said the U.S. is above average and 42 percent
said it is average.
South Koreans are more negative regarding China than any other country, with the
response of below average reaching 53 percent, apparently reflecting frequent
diplomatic friction between the two northeast Asian neighbors over history and
territory. Japan was not part of the survey.
hdh@yna.co.kr
(END)