Right now, Korea is offering an excellent window of opportunity to really understand what Anti-Americanism in the society is all about.

Constrasting today with 2000 should do the trick.

Here is a link to a review I did of the Maehyang-ri / Koon-ni Bombing Range Saga that was the first big issue of 2000 ----- a year filled with recurrent high spikes in anti-US activity just short of the amount of hate put on display in 2002.

http://usinkorea.org/issues/koonni/index.htm

Comparing how the Koon-ni episode evolved with what we have seen so far in Pyongtaek is very instructive.

In Pyongtaek, since the start of this year, the anti-US leaders have clearly put typical protest violence on the shelf. They were warned by the media ahead of time the press would not publically sympathize with the normal routine of anti-US activity with this base expansion effort.

This was predictable, because although the media likes to be the champion of the little people, it is more afraid of the costs required to get rid of the US military, and it is still in shock at the US withdrawing 1/4th of the troops already and talking about how it would be willing to withdraw even more.

So, the tactic the anti-US leaders have chosen to use in this type of environment is to force the government to use force first.

The protests have featured grandmothers and middle aged women, peasant folk, the weakest and poorest in the society. They are saying, "These are the Koreans the US is abusing with its land grab. How can we not fight such an outrage with fire of our own?"

I don't know if this will work or not. I give it a 65%-75% chance of failing. Again, although anti-Americanism is the norm in Korean society, it does not mean the bulk of Koreans want the alliance to end. They prefer using and abusing the US in Korea at the same time, and if push comes to shove, they will vote to keep the bastard GIs in country --- until it is much safer to kick them out. So, even if the anti-US groups maintain the tactic of putting forward old women as potential cannon fodder ---- it probably will not win a greenlight in the society as a whole for more violent protest methods.

Now, look back at how Koon-ni evolved in 2000.

It was exactly the opposite environment and tactics chosen.

2000 saw 4 or 5 or 6 issues taken up in a mega frenzy of anti-US activity for the whole year (much like 2002).

The reason?

South Korean's were giddy over the prospect of peace when North Korea agreed to hold a summit with the South. Suddenly, it looked like USFK wasn't needed after all, and Korea's swelled pride at achieving the summit instantly translated into unleashing long pent up anger at the US in Korea.

Maehyang-ri was one of the first opportunities for this venting.

The base had long been known by anti-US leaders, but they had never been able to galvanize the bulk of the society around it. Koon-ni was not a household name. It was not a primary issue in fomenting anti-USFK attitudes. In short, it was ignored.

But, thanks to the euphoria of the summit, the anti-US groups were extremely successful in getting Maehyang-ri in the public mind --- where it has stayed until this very day.

What happened?

Korea claims the focus was a natural result of the damage down by bombs falling outside the range.

Which is a lie.

What happened that day was a US plane experiencing engine trouble dumped the load of bombs it was carrying to another range onto the Koon-ni site. The bombs did NOT fall "in the heart of the village" as some in the Korean media still claim today. They fell on the range, and the amount of vibrations unleashed could not have damaged any homes or structures off base -- even if the Korean media constantly repeats the anti-US group's claim that hundreds of homes were damaged and a dozen or so people injured.

But, beyond this background information ----- what I want to point out in this post is -----

the anti-US groups successful created the myth of Maehyang-ri --- and turned it into a household name ----

by using violence.

The Priest --- the very same leader who is putting out the grandmothers and middle aged women in Pyongtaek these days -----

used his university student shock troops and others to storm the Koon-ni range more than once.

The Priest understood Korean society was ripe for venting anti-US anger in 2000 -- so he used tactics he thought would best manipulate this mood:

he used violent protests to gain media attention and pull on the heart-strings of a Korean society used to violent demonstrations and a protest culture. The memories of how violent protests successfully brought democracy to South Korea (over authoritarian rule) are still very fresh.

But today is not 2000.

The North is still seen as a threat -- regardless of how much Sunshine the people like to talk about and how much they want to pretend the North is just a long lost brother.

And more importantly, USFK is already packing the bags of 1/4th of its troops that are heading out of South Korea.

In this environment, typical violent anti-US protests will bring a rebuke by the bulk of Korean society unless The Priest and crew can successfully find a way to turn the tables.

So, instead of thousands of university students and organized labor ripping down the fence at Koon-ni or breaking through the gate.....

.....they are flying kites and shooting video of old women crying in the street.

Anti-Americanism in Korea is not one diminsional. It is a process with nevertheless clear ebbs and flows.

If you look at my site www.usinkorea.org and read up on the other big issues and events over the years, you will begin to see how it works.

And you will begin to appreciate just how good the anti-US leaders are at their profession

Thanks for the dissertation on the problem. As all of you comments it was well thought out and written.

Some of the Anti- Americanism is deserved. It is brought on in the same way many stereotypes evolve. This is not just a problem in Korea with soldiers but it is everywhere we have a presence in a foreign country. It is brought about by the way some US soldiers have a lack of respect for local people, their customs and their language.

I will give you an example. The last tour I had of Korea I was an E-5 and was in the room with other NCOs'. Each building has its own Korean National who is hired by all the soldiers to do the cleaning of the barracks and bathrooms. I was always taught to respect others so when he came in to the room in the morning I would greet him in Korean. I noticed others would just ignore and looked down on him like he was not on their level. It really embarrassed me and I noticed that some also treat the Katusa like that.

Even though the command, when it was brought to them, verbally corrected the unit as a whole on mistreatment of Katusa and Korean Nationals it still happened and one bad event will erase 100 good ones. It makes us look like we do not know common manners and what does that say when you go into another's country and disrespect their customs, language and people. Not to say that some of this does not happen in reverse but from what I saw the way many of the soldiers act in foreign countries gives the perception of the "Ugly American".
Thanks for letting me vent that.

I can see this point as valid, but I wonder how much effect it really has. You will have more insights than me since you were around soldiers and the Koreans connected to the US military and I was not.

But, the number of Koreans who have firsthand contact with GIs is very small.
Most Koreans never get to meet an American (whether ESL instructor or GI).

And from the perhaps couple dozen Korean adults who came to the hakwons I taught at over the years --- who did work on a US base or do work that required them to be around soldiers regularly ----

----they were on average more likely to be pro-US-SK alliance than anti-US/USFK. The few students I can remember who had contact with USFK were bank workers and movers and jobs in-between these two levels.

Besides the 65 years and older demographic, the base workers were the only ones I thought coudl justifiably be labelled pro-US in Korea.

Later, I lived near a couple of Korean-American communities and it seemed to me a good number of the immigrants were people once connected to USFK in some form.

So, I'm not sure how much the "ugly American (GI)" really does factor into the anti-US culture.

I agree whole heartedly USFK leadership --- from sgts on up the chain --- should be frequently preaching respect for the Koreans around where GIs work and play....

...but from my experience teaching a lot of Korean adults, firsthand or even second or third hand knowledge of GIs does not factor in much.

I can't even recall an example of where a student came in and said he or someone he knew or someone who someone he knew knew had had bad experience X with a GI or on base.

I am sure it happens, but its impact is insignificant compared to things like the typical GI crime that gets reported in the media or the different ways in which myths like "GIs are never tried in Korea but just fly away to the US" or Maehyang-ri or others are created.

Over a period of decades, I can see bad experiences with GIs adds up to effect some portion of the society as a whole ---

----but, by the time it gets to effecting the whole society, it has become so connected with other stuff outside the control of the average soldier, I really don't put much stock in the "act right" justification for the level of anti-Americanism that is the cultural norm in Korea.

And just in general ------ justifying a basically racial steroeotype through the individual acts of a portion of the demongraphic sure sounds like it is bordering on racism to me.

It is not first hand contact that really breeds the contempt. It is the perceived arrogance enhanced in news stories, books and movies. Yes it is prejudice, and like most prejudice is enhanced by a preconceived notion not first hand knowledge. College students regardless of them being Korean or American tend to take a what they have heard rather than experiencing it for themselves. Many of the soldiers consider a Kautusa like a second rate soldier but if they bothered to really get to know them they would be embarrassed to discover that they are mostly college students with the ability to speak at least 2 languages fluent English and Korean and most know some Japanese and Chinese. I will tell you many Katusa have had a first hand experience with American GI's for some it has been good and others bad. The stories of the Katusas that had a good experience with GI's and vice a versa are probably more than the bad ones but it is the bad ones that get passed on to others. I had been told horrible stories of Katusa by GI's before I went to Korea. I took them with a grain of salt and figured I would judge for my self. I had the opportunity to work with Katusa and ROK Soldiers and thanks to the Katusa SGT (Kim Song Su) I was brought to a greater understanding of and respect for Korea and the culture. I have seen some bad Kautusa's also that were just there to get over on their obligation and get by because Dad had money. Happened during Viet Nam with Us. He was taken care of by the other Katusa who tried to help him but ended up having to assist him to go to the ROK Army. I guess the short of it is ignorance breeds the prejudice.

ou both have excellent points.

Parisok, your point is valid. I saw the worst of America in the food court at Osan. Americans show how spoiled they are and treat the Korean workers like crap. If there is something wrong with their food, no matter how small, they walk up and demand the world. They look down on the Korea workers. I especially noticed this with many African-American females. For some reason they really crap on Korean females.

I also agree that many Koreans are easily corrupted in the universities. It is true that many Koreans have never met an American and hate Americans due to the teachings of their university professor. The pressure to do well in school can make young Koreans easily corrupted by their professors.

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I think the real point overall is that to many people, no matter what their country or race want to believe that they are a little better. This belief is played on by news stories and those that just want to create controversy. I agree with USinKorea. I just wanted to state that some of the dislike of US Military may be deserved.

PS I really enjoyed this, as it was an a great discussion of a subject that needs to be discussed and debated and thanks to usinkorea for writing it.

I believe the US in Korea has done things to gain ill-will, but I strongly believe the bulk attitude in Korean society far outweighs any damage USFK has done to itself in Korean society over the years.

The division of Korea is the biggest event against the US position in Korea. We can have a fruitful debate about what are some of the likely outcomes would have been had the US stayed out of Korea altogether at the end of WWII ---- how much better or worse or whatever Korea would have been today had history not evolved as it did. But, the division of Korea and its results are a real reason to have some bad blood for the US in Korean society.

However, the more I looked into the items that are used all the time to explain/foment hatred for the US position in Korea, the more I have been unforgiving to Korean society for its rampant anti-US attitude (that wants to use the US military (and US consumer market) but treat it like a whore at the same time).

It started out that way. I taught only Korean adults my first two years. I knew next to nothing about contemporary Korean society. All the big hot button items were routinely brought up by students each week - especially as new students rotated into the classes. I heard the same things over and over.

And since I didn't know any better, I just asked questions.

I could tell even then something was not exactly right. The GI Crimes Myth was the tip off. It quickly became obvious that these Koreans (aged 25-40 generally) had the information locked away in their own brains that defeated what they nevertheless claimed as untouchable truth ---- "GIs are never held to justice in Korea. The Korean and American government protects them and they just fly away to America."

When I would ask for more information, they would tell me about a few horrible examples --- especially the Markle Murder of 1993 (or so) ----- but if I just scratched below the surface with simple questions, I would find they knew about these cases because the GIs had IN FACT been put on trial in Korean courts for all the public to see.

You can see what I found on a variety of issues at www.usinkorea.org --- all of them regularly mentioned as bones Korea has to pick with the US relationship.

Sometimes, I pause to wonder if the fact that I keep finding Korea on the wrong side of all these issues might not mean I am favoring the US side too much....

....but given the amount of material I've found (and present on the site), I can't come to that conclusion.

Whether we are talking about GI Crimes, The Environment, and more, I can readily see how the actions of USFK members and the organization have impacted negatively on Korean society --------- but when I compare the damage to the amount of exaggeration and often lies the society as a whole uses to justify its cultural ill-will toward the US in Korea ------------- I can't give Korea credit for much.

For example, The Environment. Without a doubt there is pollution all over US bases in Korea. Without a doubt (judging by environmental proceddures in place today and environmental standards of today) USFK over the decades has done things to harm Korea's environment. Without a doubt, the US military in Korea should (as it does) watch what it does today (applying today's standards) and clean up (within reason) problems it finds.

However, without the tiniest of doubts, I know Korean society is full of sh** in how it uses The Environment as one of the best selling tools to foment dislike of the US in Korea today.

I'm working on something right now ----- I'm searching the online archives of KBS and MBC for video news segments dealing with Environmental Problems.

I did one project like this using the English language media a couple of years ago. usinkorea.org/issues/yongsanwaste/green_korea.html

I am in the initial stages of the video research, but at least initially, I'm finding the same results:

Some news about general pollution in Korea --- the air or a particular stream -- but those segements don't point a finger at who could have done the polluting.

I've already found one segment that did mention a specific (actually more than 1) large chaebol/conglomerate, but it was exactly like what I found in the newspapers ----- a positive story about how these large industry leaders were working hard to curb pollution.

In the newspapers, I found virtually no items (over the period of some years) that covered things like "Major Soil Pollution at Pohang Steel's Mokpo Factory" and so on.

But, I did find plenty of articles (and I've already found a good number of video news segments) detailing pollution around specific US bases. And none of them have had a USFK spokesman's view at all. None.

Add to this information I've collected in a couple of reviews about efforts by USFK to tell what kind of saftey measures it has in place and proceedures it uses when it finds pollution.

And the only fair conclusion I think a reasonable person can come to is that --- Korea is full of sh** on the issue of Environmental Crimes even though it is a topic in which the bulk of Korean society is in perfect agreement on.

It seems to me what happens with understanding expats is that they take the fact these items are so geneally agreed upon in Korean society and they take the vast number of issues and some how conclude that any of the net truths in each distorted issue = a justification for the gross anti-US attitude.

I must say that you do speak the truth and there are bad apples in every barrel. Yes when one is found in the American barrel it is blasted by all for the world to see and you are correct that Korea is not very open about its own transgressions against its own people. I would like to see the Military understand the microscope we are under and better yet make sure that it is understood down the chain of command all the way to the lowest private. Many Koreans who say US Military is exempt for prosecution will get that opinion from the SOFA, Status of Forces Agreement, which we have with Korea. It is like every other Document when not taken in it entirety bits and pieces of it can be used as ammunition in the anti-American cause. By writing and discussing this I hope that others will realize not to take everything, especially when it comes from a bias source, at face value but question and make sure they have the whole story. I have read usinkoreas web site and many of his posts here. He is doing what many good reporters should be doing questioning the who, what and where and seeking the whole story. I wish others would follow his lead.

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Just my humble opinion!