After the visit of Pope Francis to Korea in 2014 the favorable rating went as high as 77%. In the recent survey 22% had an unfavorable opinion and 12 % reserved their opinion. Korea was rated 23rd of the 64 countries surveyed.
Favorable ratings of some of the Developed Countries were as follows: United States 58 %, Germany 57%, France 62 %, England 37%. Survey was made last year from Oct. to Nov. taken among 1,500 Koreans not including Jeju Island.
Catholics had a 93 % favorable opinion, Protestants 64%, Buddhist and No-Religion 62%. In the overall survey the country with the highest favorable rating was Portugal with 94 %; only 2% with an unfavorable opinion. Philippines 93%, Argentina 89%, Italy 86%, Columbia 84%, Spain and Lebanon were 80%. Countries with a large Catholic population in North, South and Central America were in the higher rank.
The lowest popularity rating came from Azerbaijan 5%, Algeria 9%, Iran 10%, Turkey 13% Mongolia 14%, Tunisia 15%, Most of these countries, 60% of the citizens give him little thought and have no real opinion on the pope.
Taking all the countries together Catholics have 85 % favorable opinion of the pope, Protestants 53 % and Buddhist 33%. No-Religion 51%.
Korea has a openness to other religions. We see little prejudice and violence among religions and efforts are made to work together.
