Political Ideologies, Government Trust, and COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in South Korea: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Hyun Kyung Park, Ji Hye Ham, Deok Hyun Jang, Jin Yong Lee and Won Mo Jang
Additional contact information
Hyun Kyung Park: Health Insurance Research Institute, National Health Insurance Service, Wonju 26464, Korea
Ji Hye Ham: Department of Urban Health and Policy, Seoul Health Foundation, Seoul 04512, Korea
Deok Hyun Jang: Research Analytics & Communications, Gallup Korea, Seoul 03167, Korea
Jin Yong Lee: Public Healthcare Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Korea
Won Mo Jang: Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Seoul Metropolitan Government-Seoul National University Boramae Medical Centre, Seoul 07061, Korea

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 20, 1-9

Abstract: This study aimed to assess the correlation between political ideologies, government trust, and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in South Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among South Korea’s general population and 1000 respondents (aged 18 years and older) were included. We used multivariate logistic regression models to identify the factors associated with vaccine hesitancy. Respondents who self-identified as liberal or held “no political opinion” had higher rates of vaccine hesitancy than conservative respondents. People’s trust in the government’s countermeasures was associated with vaccination. Respondents who had risk perceptions (affective and cognitive) of COVID-19 had lower rates of vaccine hesitancy. Perceptions that the vaccine was not safe and being aged 18–29, 30–39, or 40–49 were associated with a higher probability of vaccine hesitancy. This study found that even if vaccine safety and risk perceptions toward COVID-19 were adjusted, self-rated political ideologies and government trust was associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. More effort to communicate with those who are *liberal or “no political opinion”, younger, and have lower level of trust in the government are required to dissolve vaccine hesitancy. Further studies should analyze the mechanism of COVID-19 vaccine uptake for effective herd immunity.

Keywords: vaccine hesitancy; COVID-19 vaccine; political ideology; trust (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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