OBJECTIVES: As part of the Lilly Oncology Patient Access to Cancer care Excellence (PACE) initiative, the 2014 PACE Cancer Perceptions Index survey was conducted to identify general public perceptions of cancer and its treatment in South Korea. METHODS: The general public consisted of a nationally representative sample of 500 respondents aged ≥18 years who participated in telephone interviews initiated by random digit dialing from March 25 to April 22, 2014.  Responses were evaluated by analysis of frequencies of responses and mean scores. RESULTS: Less than half (39%) of the general public expressed satisfaction with progress in cancer treatment, and most (82%) believe it takes too long for new cancer medicines to reach patients. Most (68%) of the general public believe clinical trials offer patients a chance to receive better treatments than those currently available, and the majority (82%) would be willing to participate in a clinical trial if they might receive a life-extending treatment. Most of the general public strongly agreed on the need for coordination of efforts across national borders (96%), and greater collaboration among government, academic institutions, non-profit organizations, and pharmaceutical companies (96%), in the development of new cancer medicines. CONCLUSIONS: The general public in South Korea is ambivalent toward overall progress in the fight against cancer, and impatient with the pace of progress. Despite some differences in perceptions in South Korea compared to those previously published for PACE surveys in the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom, the general public in South Korea is consistent with the general public in the other six countries in identifying cancer as a health priority, and wanting greater investment in addressing the disease as well as faster availability of new medicines.