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The alliance between the United States and South Korea is at a critical turning point, and
the issues surrounding the location and operations of U.S. military bases in South Korea
are central to the alliance’s future. Yet while both Seoul and Washington recognize the
importance of various aspects of the basing problem, and have spent years negotiating the
details of base relocation plans, they have paid insufficient attention to each other’s
political interests—many of which have their foundations on interpretations of the roles
each played in post-World War II history, and many of which have a strong emotional
component. The result has been unnecessary damage to the alliance relationship.
Perceived U.S. callousness toward the well-being of the South Korean population, and
insufficient attention to showing “respect” for South Korea in particular, has ensured that
street protests against the bases are a permanent feature of South Korea’s political
landscape. This problem has been aggravated by the unilateralism of recent U.S. foreign
and security policies. Perceived South Korean government indifference to the plight that
the Pentagon faces in trying to operate its bases in heavily populated areas, especially
where significant elements of that population are hostile to its presence, has encouraged
Washington to doubt Seoul’s intentions. Some Americans involved in the basing
relationship resent the fact that the South Korean population and government do not show
more “gratitude” for the sacrifices that the U.S. military has made on their behalf, and are
annoyed when South Korea fails to recognize the debt that the U.S. is owed for its
expenditure of resources.
Convention