Social Trust During the Pandemic: Evidence from COVID-19 Crisis in South Korea

Seong Hee Kim

doi:10.1007/s11205-025-03624-8

Social Trust During the Pandemic: Evidence from COVID-19 Crisis in South Korea

Seong Hee Kim^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Social Studies Education

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review

Abstract

This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on social trust in South Korea throughout the entire pandemic period. Using data from the 2016–2023 Korea Social Integration Survey, the study analyzes the effect of the early outbreaks of COVID-19 on social trust through a difference-in-differences estimation method. The results indicate that experiencing the early outbreaks of the pandemic negatively affected general trust in others, though this effect was only temporary. To explore the underlying mechanism, perceptions of communication across different groups were analyzed. The findings suggest that a decline in perception of communication with neighbors partially contributed to the reduction in trust.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	159-181
Number of pages	23
Journal	Social Indicators Research
Volume	180
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-025-03624-8
State	Published - 2025.10

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities

Keywords

COVID-19
Difference-in-differences
Dynamic effects
Social distancing
Social trust
South Korea

Quacquarelli Symonds(QS) Subject Topics

Psychology
Sociology

Access to Document

10.1007/s11205-025-03624-8

Cite this

@article{ee617088212448f387e7fae20d93667e,

title = "Social Trust During the Pandemic: Evidence from COVID-19 Crisis in South Korea",

abstract = "This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on social trust in South Korea throughout the entire pandemic period. Using data from the 2016–2023 Korea Social Integration Survey, the study analyzes the effect of the early outbreaks of COVID-19 on social trust through a difference-in-differences estimation method. The results indicate that experiencing the early outbreaks of the pandemic negatively affected general trust in others, though this effect was only temporary. To explore the underlying mechanism, perceptions of communication across different groups were analyzed. The findings suggest that a decline in perception of communication with neighbors partially contributed to the reduction in trust.",

keywords = "COVID-19, Difference-in-differences, Dynamic effects, Social distancing, Social trust, South Korea",

author = "Kim, \{Seong Hee\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2025.",

year = "2025",

month = oct,

doi = "10.1007/s11205-025-03624-8",

language = "English",

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pages = "159--181",

journal = "Social Indicators Research",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Social Trust During the Pandemic

T2 - Evidence from COVID-19 Crisis in South Korea

AU - Kim, Seong Hee

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2025.

PY - 2025/10

Y1 - 2025/10

N2 - This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on social trust in South Korea throughout the entire pandemic period. Using data from the 2016–2023 Korea Social Integration Survey, the study analyzes the effect of the early outbreaks of COVID-19 on social trust through a difference-in-differences estimation method. The results indicate that experiencing the early outbreaks of the pandemic negatively affected general trust in others, though this effect was only temporary. To explore the underlying mechanism, perceptions of communication across different groups were analyzed. The findings suggest that a decline in perception of communication with neighbors partially contributed to the reduction in trust.

AB - This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on social trust in South Korea throughout the entire pandemic period. Using data from the 2016–2023 Korea Social Integration Survey, the study analyzes the effect of the early outbreaks of COVID-19 on social trust through a difference-in-differences estimation method. The results indicate that experiencing the early outbreaks of the pandemic negatively affected general trust in others, though this effect was only temporary. To explore the underlying mechanism, perceptions of communication across different groups were analyzed. The findings suggest that a decline in perception of communication with neighbors partially contributed to the reduction in trust.

KW - COVID-19

KW - Difference-in-differences

KW - Dynamic effects

KW - Social distancing

KW - Social trust

KW - South Korea

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105007454616

U2 - 10.1007/s11205-025-03624-8

DO - 10.1007/s11205-025-03624-8

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:105007454616

SN - 0303-8300

VL - 180

SP - 159

EP - 181

JO - Social Indicators Research

JF - Social Indicators Research

IS - 1

ER -

Social Trust During the Pandemic: Evidence from COVID-19 Crisis in South Korea

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Quacquarelli Symonds(QS) Subject Topics

Access to Document

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New Findings on COVID-19 from Jeonbuk National University Summarized (Social Trust During the Pandemic: Evidence From Covid-19 Crisis In South Korea)

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Social Trust During the Pandemic: Evidence from COVID-19 Crisis in South Korea

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Quacquarelli Symonds(QS) Subject Topics

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Press/Media

New Findings on COVID-19 from Jeonbuk National University Summarized (Social Trust During the Pandemic: Evidence From Covid-19 Crisis In South Korea)

Cite this