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52 results

Page 1 of 3

  • Conclusion

  • Uk Heo, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Terence Roehrig
  • Book:
    The Evolution of the South Korea–United States Alliance
    Published online:
    10 September 2018
    Print publication:
    27 September 2018, pp 238-271

  • Summary

    The South Korea–United States alliance has evolved from one focused solely on the security of South Korea to a partnership that encompasses a broad array of issues of mutual concern. Described in the 2013 Joint Vision Statement, the Alliance seeks to cooperate on issues such as climate change, piracy, trafficking, and WMD proliferation. However, several hurdles remain, including possible disagreement over a common policy on dealing with North Korea, defense burden sharing, latent anti-Americanism, the KORUS FTA, and the friction associated with South Korea begin caught in the middle of China–United States relations. The alliance remains on relatively solid ground, but maintaining the relationship will require regular attention and dialogue. Serious challenges loom on the horizon that will test leaders in both countries, and working together in a collaborative relationship will be essential to successfully navigate the rough waters that lay ahead. This chapter reviews the future of the alliance and makes some concluding remarks about the evolving nature of the alliance.

  • 6 - Changing Military Dimensions of the Alliance

  • Uk Heo, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Terence Roehrig
  • Book:
    The Evolution of the South Korea–United States Alliance
    Published online:
    10 September 2018
    Print publication:
    27 September 2018, pp 197-237

  • Summary

    After the Korean War, South Korea was decimated and a large share of its defense was provided by the United States and the alliance. The United States deployed over 60,000 troops in South Korea, including two combat divisions positioned close to the DMZ and along the likely invasion routes from the north. Washington also deployed tactical nuclear weapons to the peninsula and supplied extensive amounts of military and economic aid to ensure South Korea’s security. As the years passed, South Korea slowly assumed a greater share of its defense responsibilities, in large part due to the growth of its economy and the increasing capability of its military. Thus, the alliance has evolved from a patron–client relationship to one that resembles more of a partnership. This chapter charts the evolution of the military elements of the alliance.

  • 3 - Democratization and the Alliance

  • Uk Heo, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Terence Roehrig
  • Book:
    The Evolution of the South Korea–United States Alliance
    Published online:
    10 September 2018
    Print publication:
    27 September 2018, pp 81-123

  • Summary

    In 1987, South Korea made the transition to democracy after years of authoritarian rule. The democratic transition was crucial not only for South Korea’s political development but also for the South Korea–United States alliance. Democratization removed an obstacle to closer political ties since Seoul and Washington now had similar political systems and values that allowed further growth as a partnership that went beyond security interests. However, democratization also brought elections and new elites to power who sometimes had different policy positions than Washington on South Korea–United States relations, North Korea, and other issues that affected the alliance. This chapter examines South Korea’s road to democracy, the role Washington played in this journey, and the impact ROK democratization has had on the alliance.

  • 5 - Economic Growth and the KORUS Free Trade Agreement

  • Uk Heo, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Terence Roehrig
  • Book:
    The Evolution of the South Korea–United States Alliance
    Published online:
    10 September 2018
    Print publication:
    27 September 2018, pp 161-196

  • Summary

    The South Korea–United States alliance began as a security arrangement, but over the years has grown to be an important economic relationship. In the 1950s, South Korea was a poor country, but by the 1960s the ROK economy was on its way to becoming the “Miracle on the Han River.” Over the years, trade ties have grown significantly along with foreign direct investment. An important element of economic ties is the KORUS FTA that went into effect in 2012. South Korea has increased its trade in goods while the United States has seen an increase in ROK investment and the provision of services. However, the Trump administration has been unhappy with the growing trade deficit and has called for a renegotiation of the FTA. This chapter examines the economic elements of the relationship as an important indicator of the evolution of the alliance.

  • Introduction

  • Uk Heo, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Terence Roehrig
  • Book:
    The Evolution of the South Korea–United States Alliance
    Published online:
    10 September 2018
    Print publication:
    27 September 2018, pp 1-17

  • Summary

    Chapter 1 begins by briefly setting the context of the South Korea–United States alliance and reviewing its history. The alliance began as a product of the Cold War that over the years evolved from an asymmetric, patron–client relationship to one that resembles a partnership. Grounded in alliance theory, this book is a study of how the alliance has changed over time and the factors that have contributed to that evolution. Few studies have examined how alliances change and adapt as a result of endogenous factors, particularly how the power relations spurred by the economic growth and political development of junior partners have affected the alliance. In South Korea’s case, democratization, economic growth, and a desire to be a more active player in international relations have played an important role in alliance transformation.

  • 4 - Security Motivations for the Alliance

  • Uk Heo, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Terence Roehrig
  • Book:
    The Evolution of the South Korea–United States Alliance
    Published online:
    10 September 2018
    Print publication:
    27 September 2018, pp 124-160

  • Summary

    The most common reason for forming an alliance is a common security threat among the alliance partners. In the early years of the South Korea–United States alliance, the chief concern was the threat of communist expansion through the joint action of Moscow, Beijing, and Pyongyang. As the years passed, it became clear that the Soviet Union and China were not interested in starting another war in Korea. With the end of the Cold War, both former enemies established normal diplomatic relations with South Korea, much to the dismay of North Korea. Threat assessments focused solely on North Korea, but by the 2000s these assessments began to diverge among leaders in Seoul and Washington, leading to serious friction within the alliance. This chapter examines the security concerns that underlie the alliance and how the assessment of these concerns has evolved over time.

  • 2 - Early Relations and Establishing the States Alliance

  • Uk Heo, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Terence Roehrig
  • Book:
    The Evolution of the South Korea–United States Alliance
    Published online:
    10 September 2018
    Print publication:
    27 September 2018, pp 49-80

  • Summary

    Korea–United States relations began formally in the late 1880s, but in these early years were modest. Washington was largely a bystander as Korea was embroiled in the competition between China, Japan, and Russia. Korea hoped that relations with the United States might help protect it from this regional struggle for power. In the end, Korea was just not that important to the United States. After World War II, Korea reemerged from Japanese occupation but was soon divided by Washington and Moscow. As the Cold War played out, the country remained separated into two hostile regimes. North Korea attempted to reunite the peninsula by force and nearly succeeded. However, after three years of war, the fighting ended with an armistice, locking in the divisions of North and South. After the war, the United States and South Korea signed the Mutual Defense Treaty and established a formal alliance that has lasted for over six decades. This chapter describes the early history of the relationship between the two countries.

The Evolution of the South Korea–United States Alliance
  • Uk Heo, Terence Roehrig
  • Published online:
    10 September 2018
    Print publication:
    27 September 2018
  • In contrast to previous studies of the South Korea-United States alliance, Uk Heo and Terence Roehrig analyze the bigger picture, including the history, economics, security, alliance structure, politics, and the future of the alliance. Taking alliance theory as a starting point, the authors argue that the alliance provides an ideal case study to examine how the political development and economic growth of junior partners impact an alliance. As South Korea's capabilities and ambitions have grown, the alliance has evolved from an asymmetric regional security relationship to an economic partnership with global interests, while China's rise and North Korea's nuclear development mean that South Korea remains of strategic importance for American interests in East Asia. This book will be read both as a major contribution to Korean studies and the study of alliance politics and theory.

South Korea's Rise
  • Economic Development, Power, and Foreign Relations
  • Uk Heo, Terence Roehrig
  • Published online:
    05 July 2014
    Print publication:
    03 July 2014
  • South Korea's phenomenal rise has been studied extensively by political scientists and economists both in terms of its impact on democratisation and as a role model for economic development. Yet little attention has been devoted to exploring the nexus between economic development and foreign policy. In South Korea's Rise, Uk Heo and Terence Roehrig propose a new theoretical framework to illustrate how an increase in a country's economic prosperity can bring about change to its foreign policy, prompting greater involvement in the international system, the transition to democracy, an expanded set of interests and increased tools to pursue its foreign policy goals. As a rising middle power, analysis of South Korea's foreign policy is crucial to our understanding of the power structure and future relations in East Asia. This is essential reading for all students and scholars with an interest in Asia, foreign policy and global economics.

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