Poll Shows that Koreans Do Not Want to Pay More for US-ROK Alliance
This poll shows why the Moon administration feels it can play hardball with the US in regards to increasing the funding for USFK, it is a popular opinion to do so:
In a poll fielded in South Korea in late January by RealMeter, a majority of South Koreans (59%) oppose accommodating US demands on increased burden sharing support (26% are in favor). It is especially notable that there are virtually no significant divides across demographic groups. Pluralities—and majorities in most cases—of all ages, regions, ideological leanings, and party affiliations are in opposition to Seoul giving in to US demands. The lone outlier are supporters of Liberty Party Korea, the main conservative opposition party. Even there, 45 percent support giving in to US demands versus 39 percent who oppose.
The Chicago Council on Foreign Affairs
You can read more at the link, but even threatening to withdraw US troops does little to impact the numbers. This leads me to believe that Koreans do not believe that President Trump would actually pull out troops.
I would be interested to see what the poll numbers would be if Koreans were asked what is more important, paying more to Kim Jong-un or the US-ROK alliance?
The American tax payers if had enough of years of paying for South Korean defense. Let’s just get out.
South Korean taxpayers would rather pay for their Dear Leader’s cheese and wine budgets.
@Doug
That might be true if you believe the American forces presence is only for the ROK’s benefit.
Amazingly enough, young people are more OK with the government paying for more things than older people. Older people are not OK with higher tax. People who are receiving pensions also seem to not care about higher taxes. Shocking.
Time for the US to leave these ungrateful, untrustworthy Koreans to their own devices.