The Future of Korean–American Alliance

The financial crisis in the U.S. makes further military expansion infeasible. The stout opposition to the Jeju naval base may breed mistrust between allies.

It is rare to find an instance that illustrates the crisis of our society as clearly as the unlawful resistance by civilians to the construction of the Jeju Island naval base. Typically, a national defense matter such as the construction of a military base is not where citizens should get involved. On this matter, we reiterate the weakness of our current administration; it is conspicuously pushed around by pro-North Korea influences and its own inability to construct the base.

One concern is that in response to the opposition’s claim that the Jeju naval base is being constructed for the U.S. Navy, the government and the navy shamefully affirmed that the base is not for the U.S. Navy. Such an explanation breaks down the Korea–U.S. alliance. Our ally, the U.S. military, cannot use our bases freely? By announcing in advance that the base will not be used by the America, how do you handle the repercussions?

The U.S. won a hard-fought war and freed us from Japanese imperialism. The U.S. also saved us during the Korean War and continues to protect us. We still rely on U.S. military command because its military assistance is so crucial. The government and the navy’s attempt to please the pro-North Korea faction by asserting that the new naval base is not for use by the U.S. Navy shames us incredibly.

The basis of an alliance is trust, and it requires a huge responsibility. How can we ask the U.S. to protect us from North Korea’s attacks while we take its trust in us lightly and are reluctant to take responsibility? Will the U.S. willingly risk its soldiers’ lives to help such an ally?

These questions cannot be taken lightly as it directly relates to the U.S. military’s presence in the Korean Peninsula. Last year, the U.S. had more expenditures then revenues. The trade and financial deficits are becoming bigger burdens. “National decline” has become the main topic in the American society due to the underlying concern about deficits.

One of the easiest strategies to reduce the financial deficit is to pull back the U.S. military’s presence overseas. There are quite a few congressmen who already advocate for reducing the U.S’s military expenditure, which is relatively high compared to its economy. The U.S. deployed its military throughout the world during the Cold War but has not since engaged in a drawing down overseas. As Paul Kennedy asserted, military overstretch brings the fall of superpowers. The U.S. will have to gradually reduce its military presence overseas.

If that is the case, there is a good possibility that the United States may withdraw their forces from Korea first. As Secretary of State Dean Acheson said when the Korean War was about to break out, the U.S. did not consider Korea as a strategically important county. The U.S. has always believed that protecting Japan will ensure the U.S.’s influence in the Western Pacific. The case is the same today. Previous [small-scale] withdrawals of the United States forces in Korea have reduced the U.S.’s influence [in the region] substantially.

If the U.S. withdraws from Korea militarily, the threat facing us would be immeasurable. We must devote our attention to broadening our relationship with the U.S. Announcing that the naval base, which has not even been built yet, will not be used by the U.S. military is not the road to earning America’s trust and goodwill.