I do not believe that most Koreans favor a complete withdrawal of USFK forces from the penninsula. The reason for that is the one I touched upon: Koreans want security at an affordable price, and believe that this arrangement provides that. I do believe that they find having the soldiers based on the penninsula to be a difficult prospect but, as I wrote, they grudgingly tolerate their presence.

I misspoke, however, when I said that ‘a reduction in US ground forces has been welcomed by Koreans generally’, for ‘welcomed’ is too strong an expression. Instead, I would say that ‘a reduction in US ground forces has not been particularly difficult for most Koreans to accept’. My apologies.

I know you?€™re capable of thought beyond the one-dimensional.

I see. I think I will put it to the test. As far as it is legal to do so, I will put on an American Army uniform next time I go to Seoul. I will have a friend follow me at a distance with a digital camera. It should make for an interesting experiment.

I cannot get the angelfire.com link to open up, so I can’t comment. But I will say this: Few if any of the Koreans I know personally or professionally “try to make things as difficult as possible” for USFK in Korea. In fact, many of them are engaged in things just the opposite. I know there are people who are doing as you describe, but, depending on the action at hand, they are often a tiny minority that doesn’t enjoy wide support; certainly they don’t represent everyone. It really is rather grating that you so often take the worst actions or attitudes or beliefs about Koreans you know or have heard or read about it and suggest it applies to pretty much everyone.

“Koreans try to…”
“Koreans say that…”

I know you’re capable of thought beyond the one-dimensional.

Still, Koreans try to make things as difficult as possible for soldiers unfortunate enough to be in Korea (and the greatest conceit is that Koreans say that the soldiers want to be in Korea - have you heard that one?).

Side note: I am still trying to figure out who the American citizen was who was working for the usacrime.org folks back in 2000, who was so quick to throw out stats about violent crimes allegedly commited by USFK personnel but was incredulous that GIs had actually been killed by Korean citizens.

Actually, I agree with you. They want the American soldiers to fight and die for Korea, all the while spreading anti American propaganda and misinformation about the crime rates of US soldiers in Korea. Rather than assist the US by clarifying to Koreans the real meaning of SOFA, the Korean government seems to encourage activity of this kind.

Maybe they are setting the stage for the alliance to be jettisoned when the Korean government feels the US has been used for all it can offer.

Way to “re-interpret” things, James. I’m still trying to find the comment where someone said they have the “same” culture, or have “no” stress. Indeed, what nonsense.

DOD Sec. Rumsfeld once said that is “intrusive” in the lives of SKoreans. Smart man that he is, he didn’t ask some comments section for proof that it is, either.

If such a large military base were farther south or on the periphery, there would be less of a sense of loss of face. UN Command or something in Seoul might be acceptable, but a large foreign garrison located on prime real estate just grates on some people.