My name is Daniel. I was an English teacher in Seoul, South Korea, and am now a writer who has

published three books including South Korea: Our Story by Daniel Nardini.

                            Despite the rhetoric coming from leftist and progressive groups against

the United States and the U.S. military stationed in South Korea, 75 percent of all Koreans polled

still have a favorable view of the United States. According to a Global Attitudes Survey done by

the Pew Research Center, 75 percent of all South Koreans still have a favorable view of the United

States. Compare this with 57 percent with Japanese holding a favorable attitude of the United

States and 50 percent of all British holding a favorable attitude of the United States. Countries

such as the Philippines and Vietnam have a higher favorable view of the United States. The

Philippines has a 78 percent favorable view of the United States, and Vietnam has an 84 percent

favorable view of the United States. Not surprisingly Russia only has a 41 percent favorable view of

the United States, but surprisingly Germany only has a 35 percent favorable view of the United

States. Despite the differences that exist between the United States and the Republic of Korea

(such as U.S. President Donald Trump, South Korean President Moon Jae-in, the argument

over the free trade agreement, and now how to deal with North Korea), the average South

Korean still views the United States and its people positively. Despite leftists' depiction of

the United States as an "imperialist power," most South Koreans are not buying it. There are

still South Koreans I see on youtube who rally for the United States and wave both South Korean

and American flags---especially in protest against political leftist rallies. South Koreans still

very much travel to the United States for vacation and also to work in American companies

and study in American colleges and universities. The bonds that have been created between

the two countries cannot so easily be broken by any change in government or political force.