A majority of South Koreans believe closer Seoul-Moscow ties will help promote their national interests, a survey showed Saturday.

In the poll of 1,000 South Koreans, 77 percent of respondents said Russia is a "strategic cooperative partner" or will become one in the future, according to the research conducted in July by the Russia Institute of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul.

It also conducted a similar survey on 1,600 Russians, 66 percent of whom were positive about the relations between the two nations.

In the poll, 72 percent of South Koreans and 56 percent of Russians said partnerships between the two sides are in the best interests of their countries.

The findings were released as President Park Geun-hye is scheduled to hold summit talks with her Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Many of the South Korean and Russian respondents picked geopolitical problems as an obstacle to bilateral ties, with 41 percent of South Koreans predicting that Russia will support North Korea in case of military tensions on the peninsula.

But 59 percent of Russians said Moscow won't take any sides to play a mediator role.

Regarding the image of South Korea, Russian respondents cited advanced technology, a divided peninsula and good-looking people.

On that of Russia, South Koreans cited President Vladimir Putin cold weather and vodka. (Yonhap)