Rise of Anti-China Sentiment in South Korea
- Eunyo Hwang
- Dec 1, 2025
- 1 min read
Dec 1, 2025
Eunyo Hwang
In South Korea, public attitudes and perception toward China are shifting noticeably. These behaviors are witnessed not only among political commentators, but also Korean citizens. Anti-China sentiment has been growing across various age groups but it is especially strong among younger generation, who are concerned about recent international political tensions and cultural disputes.
Analysts say that this trend is more than just a temporary phenomenon. The group of Anti-China feels that tension between the two nations has escalated due to historical disagreements and clashes. As the strain increases, people argue whether China is still seen as a major economic partner or uncertainty. This situation results a further distance between the countries as the perception of China changes rapidly.
These growing feelings have also moved into public spaces. Small groups of students and young workers gather at the streets with cardboard signs, expressing worries about China’s influence on Korea; the mood is personal rather than political. Many netizens think that they’re not activists; instead, they’re just frustrated about the circumstances and want their voices to be heard,
Experts warn that this growing sentiment could complicate South Korea’s future if this phenomenon ensues. China remains one of Korea’s major economic allies, yet public pressure may push policymakers to contemplate current relationship. For many Koreans, the conversation is not only about economics; it’s about what kind of country they desire South Korea to be in the future where tension increases substantially and unexpectedly.
