▁ 1 9 9 2 , ▁when ▁formal ▁diplom atic ▁relations ▁were ▁established ▁between ▁Se oul ▁and ▁Be ij ing . ▁ ▁Anti - Ch inese ▁sent iments ▁in ▁South ▁Korea ▁have ▁been ▁on ▁a ▁steady ▁rise ▁since ▁ 2 0 0 2 . ▁According ▁to ▁P ew ▁opinion ▁pol ls , ▁favor able ▁view ▁of ▁China ▁stead ily ▁decl ined ▁from ▁ 6 6 % ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 2 ▁to ▁ 4 8 % ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 8 , ▁while ▁unf avor able ▁views ▁rose ▁from ▁ 3 1 % ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 2 ▁to ▁ 4 9 % ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 8 . ▁According ▁to ▁surve ys ▁by ▁the ▁East ▁Asia ▁Institute , ▁positive ▁view ▁of ▁China ' s ▁influence ▁decl ined ▁from ▁ 4 8 . 6 % ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 5 ▁to ▁ 3 8 % ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 9 , ▁while ▁negative ▁view ▁of ▁it ▁rose ▁from ▁ 4 6 . 7 % ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 5 ▁to ▁ 5 0 % ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 8 . ▁ ▁Rel ations ▁further ▁stra ined ▁with ▁the ▁deployment ▁of ▁TH A AD ▁in ▁South ▁Korea ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 7 , ▁in ▁which ▁China ▁started ▁its ▁boy c ott ▁against ▁Korea , ▁making ▁Kore ans ▁to ▁develop ▁anti - Ch inese ▁sentiment ▁in ▁South ▁Korea ▁over ▁reports ▁of ▁economic ▁ret ali ation ▁by ▁Be ij ing . ▁According ▁to ▁a ▁poll ▁from ▁the