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Public Awareness and Sentiment toward COVID-19 Vaccination in South Korea: Findings from Big Data Analytics

Author

Listed:
  • Yeon-Jun Choi

    (Department of Aviation Security Protection, Kwangju Women’s University, Gwangju 62396, Korea)

  • Julak Lee

    (Department of Industrial Security, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06911, Korea)

  • Seung Yeop Paek

    (Department of Criminal Justice, California State University, East Bay, SF-428, Hayward, CA 94542, USA)

Abstract

Despite a worldwide campaign to promote vaccination, South Korea is facing difficulties in increasing its vaccination rate due to negative perceptions of the vaccines and vaccination policies. This study investigated South Koreans’ awareness of and sentiments toward vaccination. Particularly, this study explored how public opinions have developed over time, and compared them to those of other nations. We used Pfizer, Moderna, Janssen, and AstraZeneca as keywords on Naver, Daum, Google, and Twitter to collect data on public awareness and sentiments toward the vaccines and the government’s vaccination policies. The results showed that South Koreans’ sentiments on vaccination changed from neutral to negative to positive over the past two years. In particular, public sentiments turned positive due to South Koreans’ hopeful expectations and a high vaccination rate. Overall, the attitudes and sentiments toward vaccination in South Korea were similar to those of other nations. The conspiracy theories surrounding the vaccines had a significant effect on the negative opinions in other nations, but had little impact on South Korea.

Suggested Citation

  • Yeon-Jun Choi & Julak Lee & Seung Yeop Paek, 2022. "Public Awareness and Sentiment toward COVID-19 Vaccination in South Korea: Findings from Big Data Analytics," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-14, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:16:p:9914-:d:885804
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Liviu-Adrian Cotfas & Camelia Delcea & Rareș Gherai, 2021. "COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in the Month Following the Start of the Vaccination Process," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-32, October.
    2. Byeongho Lim & Emma Kyoungseo Hong & Jinjin Mou & Inkyo Cheong, 2021. "COVID-19 in Korea: Success Based on Past Failure," Asian Economic Papers, MIT Press, vol. 20(2), pages 41-62, Summer.
    3. Luca Simione & Monia Vagni & Tiziana Maiorano & Valeria Giostra & Daniela Pajardi, 2022. "How Implicit Attitudes toward Vaccination Affect Vaccine Hesitancy and Behaviour: Developing and Validating the V-IRAP," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-18, April.
    4. Latkin, Carl A. & Dayton, Lauren & Yi, Grace & Konstantopoulos, Arianna & Boodram, Basmattee, 2021. "Trust in a COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S.: A social-ecological perspective," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    5. Fu Gu & Yingwen Wu & Xinyu Hu & Jianfeng Guo & Xiaohan Yang & Xinze Zhao, 2021. "The Role of Conspiracy Theories in the Spread of COVID-19 across the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-14, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Qiong Dang & Shixian Li, 2022. "Exploring Public Discussions Regarding COVID-19 Vaccinations on Microblogs in China: Findings from Machine Learning Algorithms," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-16, October.
    2. Jaeyoung Lim & Kuk-Kyoung Moon, 2023. "Political Ideology and Trust in Government to Ensure Vaccine Safety: Using a U.S. Survey to Explore the Role of Political Trust," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-15, March.
    3. Shin-Ae Hong, 2023. "COVID-19 vaccine communication and advocacy strategy: a social marketing campaign for increasing COVID-19 vaccine uptake in South Korea," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-9, December.

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