You know, generally speaking although Israel is in the news from time to time, average Koreans don't think much about it at all. It's just not a country which makes it onto the radar that often, since it's far removed from East and South-East Asia, and also not a major player in local political issues.
It's true that a lot of Koreans are interested in studying Talmudic teachings, and many do have some regards for Jews and Judaism. That said, it's rare to meet an average Korean person who knows anything about Judaism itself. There are just not enough Israelis and Jews here to warrant even having real synagogues. Perhaps there's one or two synagogues in Seoul, but it's hardly the heart of Judaica. You'll find a much larger Jewish community in Bangkok or even in Indonesia than in Seoul.
All of this to say: do Koreans have a negative view of Israel? Absolutely not. In general, they have no view of Israel at all but they are friendly people. If you're the first Israeli they meet and you leave a good impression, then something very interesting happens: the Koreans who met you instantly hold your entire country in high regard. It's something I've always loved about Koreans.
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