Korea potential next big global player : Harris Poll

The poll, which was conducted by US-based research firm Harris Interactive for the first time in Asia, found that between 26 and 31 per cent of adults in the US, China, Hong Kong, India and Singapore believed Korea would become a dominant force in the relatively near future.

Vietnam was also perceived as a key market, with over 20 per cent of Singaporeans indicating that it is likely to play a considerably more important role on a global level.

A number of Indian respondents also pointed to Malaysia (34 per cent) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the next biggest players.

Confidence levels in China remain very high, with 85 per cent of nationals and 87 per cent of Hong Kong residents stating it will be the most influential economy over the next ten years.

Indian respondents were found to be similarly optimistic, with 80 per cent believing their country would replace China as the most influential economy. That compares with just 39 per cent of Americans who felt the same about their own country.

The poll canvassed over 4,250 respondents across China, Hong Kong, India, Singapore and the US.