Anti-American sentiment in Korea began with the earliest contact between the two nations and continued after the division of Korea and Korean War. Despite this, as of 2011[update], 74% of South Koreans have a favorable view of the U.S., making it one of the most pro-American countries in the world.[1]
One particular focus of such sentiment has focused on the presence and behavior of American military personnel (USFK) on the peninsula. There have been a number of high-profile cases of American soldiers committing rape and assault on Korean people, with an example being the 2002 Yangju highway incident,[2] as well as the 2008 Camp Humphreys expansion controversy. The ongoing U.S. military presence in South Korea, especially at Yongsan Garrison in central Seoul, remains a contentious issue. While protests have arisen over specific incidents, they may be reflective of deeper historical, anti-Western sentiment.
Within the last decade, many Korean dramas and films have portrayed Americans in a negative light, which may also contribute to the harboring of anti-American views among [South] Koreans.[3]
- ^ Views of US Continue to Improve in 2011 BBC Country Rating Poll Archived 2012-11-23 at the Wayback Machine, March 7, 2011.
- ^ "Road deaths ignite Korean anti-Americanism". International Herald Tribune. August 1, 2002. Archived from the original on September 15, 2007. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
- ^ Kao, Anthony (8 April 2018). "Why Don't Korean Dramas and Movies Like Americans?". Cinema Escapist. Retrieved 26 November 2019.