Trust in government in South Korea
South Korea: Trust in government was 29.5% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Trust in government in South Korea, 2007–2024
Source: OECD (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 29.5% for trust in government in 2024.
That represents a change of down 24.4% on the previous year and up 2.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, trust in government in South Korea peaked at 39.0% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 23.5%, in 2007.
That places South Korea 41st out of 47 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Trust in government in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 23.5% | — |
| 2010 | 28.7% | +22.0% |
| 2013 | 28.7% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 26.0% | -9.3% |
| 2019 | 37.7% | +44.9% |
| 2022 | 39.0% | +3.5% |
| 2024 | 29.5% | -24.4% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 29.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 42.8%, 69% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 29.5% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 49.8%, 59% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 23.5% | 23.5% | 23.5% | 1 |
| 2010s | 30.3% | 26.0% | 37.7% | 4 |
| 2020s | 34.2% | 29.5% | 39.0% | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More social development data for South Korea
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 4,407 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 117 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 117 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0001 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is trust in government in South Korea?
- Trust in government in South Korea was 29.5% in 2024, according to OECD (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest trust in government recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 39.0% in 2022.
- What is the lowest trust in government recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.5% in 2007.
- How does South Korea rank for trust in government?
- South Korea ranks 41st out of 47 countries with data for 2024.
- Is trust in government rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from OECD (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Trust in government. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of respondents replying "yes" to the question "In this country, do you have confidence in national government, or not?"