This article was originally posted on Jayu Press and translated by OKN Correspondent.
The United States Forces Korea (USFK) and the ROK-US alliance are critical safeguards to protect the Korean Peninsula’s peace and security. More than 90 percent of Koreans as well as experts agree to this. Nevertheless, during this past presidential election, it was shocking that a presidential candidate believed that “the USFK is an occupying force and [if he were to win, he] will have them withdraw.” The fact that this candidate, whose inability to read the global trend, won so many votes is shocking. Through this piece, I would like to briefly explain to the voters who supported this candidate why the USFK is important.
One simple way to find out how consequential things are that we usually don’t find important is to just imagine a situation without them. A couple of things we don’t recognize that are important to us are water and air. What kind of world would it be without water and air? The current US Forces Korea is the same US military force that came to South Korea on July 1, 1950, to deter the North Korean invasion of the South, and has a 72-year history in the country. With the USFK stationed in South Korea for almost two generations, many people became unaware of its significance and the USFK has become like water and air—something that is always there.
However, it is not so. If another government like Moon Jae-in’s were to be established once more, the USFK would probably have to withdraw from the peninsula. During the March 9 presidential election, the Korean people elected a person who is aware of the importance of the ROK-US alliance and the USFK. It was by the grace of God [that he was elected].
Let’s imagine what would happen if there were no US troops in Korea. First, North Korea will play with South Korea as much as they want. If something should go awry, they can make direct military provocations. Second, China will no longer think of the Republic of Korea as an independent sovereign nation. With the USFK, China has been a tremulous regime, but what will they be like if there are no longer US troops stationed in Korea?
Third, if the USFK were withdrawn, all foreign companies that believed in the stability of the Korean Peninsula and invested in South Korea would pull out. No companies and/or human beings would invest in a country where its national security is unstable. Fourth, if we want to protect our sovereignty in such a situation, we will have to significantly increase our national defense budget, but we will not have the funds to do so. Thus, we may have to increase the length of South Korea’s compulsory military service. Fifth, even Japan will turn into a considerable enemy. Wasn’t Japan the main enemy of the Moon Jae-in administration? The USFK prevented Japan from attacking Dokdo by steering the ROK-US-Japan relations.
To read the original article in Korean, please click here.
