US Security Umbrella Bolsters Korea’s Growth
By Michael Breen
If the main driver of the phenomenal rise of South Korea from its history of backwardness and poverty was the vision of its leader Park Chung-hee and his ability to persuade and force businessmen and workers in his direction, then another crucial factor was the supporting role played by the country's main ally, the United States.
That role did not begin smoothly. While Washington had prepared for the defeat of Japan during the World War II, it gave little consideration to the Korean Peninsula. The Americans did not know Korea.
In contrast to the Soviet Union, where the army had included Korean units, there was no "Free Korean" contribution to the war effort that the allies could naturally turn to after the war.
Indeed, the Koreans they had come across during the war were either soldiers in the Japanese army or guards in its prison camps, who were notorious for being more brutal toward POWs than the Japanese guards.
Thus, while the Soviets skillfully placed one of their young Korean army officers, Kim Il-sung, to the fore in Pyongyang, the Americans i
Mar 5, 2010
