Publication

Poll on Adjusting the U.S.-Korea Alliance and Sharing the Defense Burden

In an Institute for Reform poll (RIO 2026-05, September 15, 2026, n=1,015), 69.6% said U.S. Forces Korea should be kept at or above its current size. A plan to raise Korea's defense cost-sharing payments in return for keeping the current U.S. troop presence and defense commitment drew more opposition (46.3%) than support (40.7%), though support reached 76.2% among those aged 18 to 29. On USFK taking part in military operations beyond the Korean Peninsula, the most common answer (45.2%) was that Korea's consent should be required case by case. Asked to evaluate the government's handling of alliance issues such as U.S. cost-sharing demands and the adjustment of USFK's role, 64.3% said it was handling them poorly.