Four out of 10 South Koreans believe that their government should be able to prevent media organizations from publishing information that could harm the country's economy, a U.S. survey showed.

According to the Pew Research Center survey, South Koreans were less supportive of freedom of the press than their U.S. and European counterparts when it comes to reporting on economic issues that might destabilize the country's economy.

While 40 percent of South Koreans were in favor of restricting publication of economically destabilizing information, only 15 percent of Americans and an average of 20 percent of Europeans were supportive of such restrictions, the survey showed.

Support for restrictions was higher in Middle Eastern and Asia-Pacific nations than countries in other regions, with 36 percent support in Japan, 38 percent in Malaysia, 45 percent in India, 50 percent in Vietnam, 51 percent in Turkey and 58 percent in Jordan.

When it comes to information on sensitive national security issues, however, restrictions on press freedom drew worldwide support, with nearly 60 percent of both South Koreans and Americans saying their governments should be able to prevent media outlets from publishing such information.

Other countries with higher support for restrictions on sensitive national security information included Britain with 66 percent, Australia with 65 percent, Canada with 56 percent, France with 54 percent and Turkey with 52 percent.

On average, 52 percent of those surveyed around the world were in support of restrictions on publishing sensitive security information.

The survey was conducted on 40,786 people in 38 countries around the world between April 5-May 21 to gauge global support for free expression and democratic principles. The result was published last week and the margin of error for South Korea was plus or minus 3.2 percentage points. (Yonhap)