Alliance or Reliance? Reconsidering U.S. Forces in the Republic of Korea

An American military presence has been prevalent on the Korean Peninsula since the end of World War II. As Korea attempted to recover from decades of bitter Japanese rule, internal struggles and politics led to the division of Korea into North and South Korea. Separation led to war, which required increased U.S. interest in South Korea to contain communist influence spreading from the Soviet Union. While South Korea attempted to build their nation after Japanese rule and three years of brutal combat with North Korea, the United States provided military and economic aid to help the fledgling country get back on its feet. Nearly 60 years have passed since the end of the Korean War, however, a robust U.S. military presence remains on the Korean Peninsula. Seemingly, the tables have turned for the Republic of Korea. They have emerged as a global economic powerhouse since the dismal years of war and prospered as the fifteenth largest economy in the world as of the end of 2011. The United States, on the other hand, suffers from a deep economic recession and significant reductions in defense spending. Since January 2012, the U.S. has pledged to focus their interests in the Asian-Pacific region despite reduction in military spending. This monograph proposes that a reduction of U.S. forces and transferring a majority of the security burden onto the Republic of Korea will not diminish stability or degrade U.S. interests in the region.