My elders did tell me tales of their early years when they chased after American soldiers and yelled,” Give me chocolate,” the only American thoughts they knew.
Seven years later, South Korea is one of the nation’s best and most developed countries. It is a amazing success story that demonstrates what happens when the US takes the lead with power and perspective.
South Korea has been returning the favor the US after had given South Korea by doing so. South Korea stepped up despite some nations avoiding direct participation in the Vietnam War because of democratic and private concerns. South Korea deployed more than 320, 000 soldiers at the US’s demand between 1964 and 1973, making it the largest foreign military factor after the US.
North Korean soldiers fought alongside Americans, sharing meals and battling socialism. The price was great: 5, 100 North Vietnamese soldiers lost their lives, while 11, 000 were wounded.
Beyond Vietnam, South Korea has constantly participated in UN peacekeeping missions in Somalia, East Timor, Lebanon, South Sudan, Iraq and Afghanistan, among people. South Korea has constantly fulfilled its obligations as a devoted member of the international community as a result of the liberal democratic get under the leadership of the US.
South Koreans continue to fight for freedom because they understand how important it is to its people because some more lives have been lost on these expeditions.
South Korea’s US coverage failings
Despite the strength of the empire, the US has struggled to keep a consistent and coherent plan toward South Korea. This loss is highlighted by two crucial errors:
1. The danger of US army departure: During the first Trump presidency, repeated threats to withdraw US troops from South Korea raised serious concerns among South Koreans. Although the practicality of such a drawback remains uncertain, background provides a disturbing precedent.
During the Vietnam War, South Korea’s rollout was based on an inherent knowing that, in returning, the US would maintain South Korea’s protection against North Korean anger. But, President Carter pursued a punitive drawback of US troops from the coast, and it sowed deep hostility in American agreements.
2. The Trump presidency even changed the terms of the US-ROK empire, focusing instead on a financial partnership rather than a bloody empire built on shared beliefs and sacrifices.
South Koreans have seen the United States as a pillar of democracy and a breakaway from Chinese persecution for years. But, Trump’s repeated complaints about South Korea’s economic growth, defence spending and business policies began to erode that understanding.
Real leadership transcends simple business transactions. It embodies perspective, vision and shared development. South Korea has long held this perfect, but recent US laws have skewed that view.
If this trend continues, it was considerably weaken American influence in the region. South Korea might be forced to do the same if the US treats it as a bloated collection item in a financial statement. What happens if China offers South Korea more financial incentives than the US?
Korea’s political value
Henry Kissinger reportedly observed,” Whoever controls Korea handles Asia”. Korea continues to be a significant player in regional safety and power dynamics despite China and Russia crossing the border to the northwest and Japan to the south.
Problems in Europe and Asia have long been treated by the US as distinct theaters. However, past tells a different tale. During World War II, the US primarily focused on Europe, underestimating Japan’s royal passions. But, Japan’s signing of the Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy demonstrated how interconnected Europe and Asia were.
Now, history is repeating itself. In line with previous relationships that led to local problems turning into world wars, North Korea is sending soldiers to Russia to struggle in Ukraine. One might go one step further and say that who controls Korea controls Asia and shapes the earth in light of recent political shifts, with North Korea immediately involved in the Russo-Ukrainian War.
The US must be aware that the world’s energy balance may be influenced by its current plans toward South Korea.
Dangers of the America approach
While the US today acknowledges China as a corporate company, it remains uncertain about how to store Beijing’s growing influence properly. South Korea is vulnerable because of its lack of proper clarity, which is counteracted by its portrayal of it as merely a business partner, and by its continuing to alienate one of the most unwavering US allies.
Yoon senate a foreign policy fight
The National Assembly’s second impeachment act against President Yoon cited his international policy as the main justification for his treatment:
The Yoon leadership has abandoned political stability, oppressed North Korea, China, and Russia, and pursued an unusually Japan-centric international policy. Also, it has appointed authorities with pro-Tokyo affiliations to essential government positions.
This speech alarmed astute international watchers, including Washington policymakers, despite immediately being dismissed as a minor incident. It established blatantly that authoritarian forces, supported by China, were trying to change South Korea’s social position.
The impeachment incident, which involved leftist groups aligning with Beijing more than Washington, revealed a heavy ideological divide within South Korea.
New danger
The liberal political world order is under siege, and unless the US and its supporters rise to the challenge, its life is not guaranteed. As Thucydides warned,” The robust do what they can”. To this, we might include: The just solid do what they just you.
This risk has gone by some names – socialism, communism, collectivism, people’s politics– but at the core there is a common denominator: a system in which the social subjugates the individual and freedom is sacrificed in the name of the so-called common good.
The US once had the social conviction to acknowledge the existential threat posed by the Soviet Union. It confronted that issue head-on – and won. Yet, the US has a record of oscillating between international authority and protectionism. ” America First” is a recurring theme in US foreign policy. When the US resorts, the vacuum is filled by the rising candidate.
Why is the US necessary in South Korea?
China has studied history and is exploiting US weaknesses, waging unrestricted warfare– no just physically, but likewise culturally, monetarily, and technologically – to undermine the foundations of liberal democracy.
South Korea has come a long way from a youngster chasing American trucks for chocolate to a country demonstrating that freedom and prosperity are possible outside the Western world. However, South Korea cannot compete with China’s growing behemoth on its own. It needs international support.
Freedom, once lost, is nearly impossible to regain. The enemies of democracy are aware of this, which is why they do not launch attacks directly but instead slowly erode our values, bit by bit. If we don’t acknowledge the magnitude of this challenge, we could soon find ourselves ruled by those who want to destroy our freedoms rather than the best.
According to Plato,” the price of apathy toward public affairs is being ruled by evil men.”
The choice is ours.
The question is clear: Will we rise to meet this challenge, or are we doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past?
Hanjin Lew  is a former international spokesman for South Korean conservative parties and a political commentator with an emphasis on East Asian affairs.