Japan's Leader More Popular Than South Korea's President in Landmark Poll

For the first time, a Japanese prime minister is viewed more favorably than a South Korean president in an annual survey of South Korean public opinion. The poll, conducted by the Seoul-based think tank the East Asia Institute, found that 41.2% of South Korean respondents had a positive view of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. In contrast, only 33.3% viewed their own president, Yoon Suk Yeol, positively. Experts link this historic shift to President Yoon's policy of improving ties with Japan. His efforts to resolve historical disputes have been unpopular with many South Koreans. At the same time, this outreach has improved Japan's image. The survey also measures views on other major powers. Positive views of China fell sharply to 9.9%, down from 19.1% last year. The United States remains the most favorably viewed nation, with 56.8% holding a positive opinion. The poll surveyed 1,000 South Korean adults between September and October. It has a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points.