President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae hold drumsticks during impromptu drumming at a hotel in Nara Prefecture, Japan, on January 13. The Blue House stated that during the Korea-Japan summit that day, Prime Minister Takaichi presented President Lee with drumsticks, personally explained how to play the drums on the spot, and led the joint performance 2026.1.13 / News1

Among the leaders of four neighboring countries, South Koreans have expressed the highest approval for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, according to a recent survey.

Gallup Korea conducted a poll from January 13 to 15, sampling 1,000 adults aged 18 and older nationwide. The results showed that Takaichi received the highest favorability rating at 22%, while 59% of respondents held an unfavorable view.

Chinese President Xi Jinping followed closely with a 21% approval rating, though 66% viewed him unfavorably. U.S. President Donald Trump garnered 19% approval, with 71% disapproval. Russian President Vladimir Putin ranked lowest, with only 6% approval and a staggering 84% disapproval.

Gallup Korea noted that younger voters in their 20s and 30s, as well as conservative groups, tend to view Xi more negatively than Trump or Takaichi. In contrast, nine out of ten progressives dislike both Trump and Putin. The pollster emphasized that while overall approval ratings for these foreign leaders remain low, the disparities in disapproval ratings are more striking.

Takaichi's popularity was notably higher among supporters of the People Power Party (40%) and those identifying as conservative (35%).

Gallup Korea's analysis suggests that current South Korean sentiment towards Japan, including views on Prime Minister Takaichi, is more conciliatory than in recent years. This marks a significant shift from the low 5% approval ratings for former Prime Ministers Shinzo Abe (2013-2019) and Fumio Kishida (2021).

Compared to August of last year, Trump's approval rating dropped by 5 percentage points, while Xi's increased by 11 points.

Trump's popularity in South Korea has fluctuated over time. It rose from 9% in May 2017 during his first term to 25% after his November visit to Korea that year, peaking at 32% following his agreement to the North Korea-U.S. summit in 2018.

Gallup Korea attributes the substantial rise in Xi's favorability partly to President Lee Jae Myung's recent state visit to China.

Disapproval of Xi was particularly high among young adults in their 20s and 30s (around 90%) and conservative groups (80%).

Regarding Putin, a 2013 survey showed 38% of respondents were uncertain about him, but that figure has now dropped to 10%. Gallup Korea suggests this shift is likely due to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and North Korea's troop deployment.

On the topic of the U.S. arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, 54% of respondents viewed it as a violation of sovereignty and unacceptable interference, while 34% considered it a necessary action for crime prevention and national interests. The remaining 13% were undecided.

This survey employed random sampling of wireless phone numbers provided by South Korea's three major telecommunications companies, using telephone interviews. The margin of error is ±3.1 percentage points with a 95% confidence level.

Among the leaders of four neighboring countries, South Koreans have expressed the highest …

2026: South Koreans Favor Japan's PM Takaichi Over Other Leaders - What’s Behind the Shift?