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Anti-Americanism in South Korea By Hoggie Lee, TheWorldJournal.com 
PRINT VERSIONProtests are going on throughout South Korea. Estimated 50,000 South Koreans took to the streets of Seoul over the weekend, demanding a revision of Status of Forces Agreement between the United States and South Korea and a direct apology from president George W. Bush. The younger generations are leading the peaceful protests on the streets. Even under 10-year-old children are participating in this movement with the candle lights on their hands. A 22-year-old college student says she will continue to take part in the protest until South Korea and the United States revise their agreement. Since two U.S. soldiers whose armored vehicle killed and crushed two South Korean young girls were acquitted by U.S. military court, Anti-American sentiment has been spreading among South Koreans rapidly. According to U.S. military verdict in November, the two soldiers were not guilty despite the death of two girls. Those two girls were walking the edge of the road and didn't know about U.S. military exercise. Because U.S. troops didn't notice about their exercise to the residents before they moved to the field. South Korean government is not able to judge this case by the bilateral forces agreement. In other words, it doesn't have jurisdiction over the crimes committed by American soldiers in its territory. South Koreans want U.S. government to hand over these two soldiers to their court. Meanwhile, U.S. officials are trying to appease Anti-American sentiment, but it is a formidable task for the time being. The officials expressed regret over this case and presented condolences to the victims. But American point of view is that the death of two girls were just a traffic accident. South Koreans accuse U.S. government of insincere behavior regarding the incident. A few South Koreans visited New York and Washington in order to protest the U.S. government's stance on the case. Some Korean student in U.S. and the American NGOs helped them voice unfairness of the forces agreement. After the failed attempt to enter the White House, they were both blocked by the police and arrested. And there are not only the protest but also another concrete action about Anti-Americanism. Some restaurant and cafe in downtown Seoul forbid Americans to visit. "There is a little bit of anger and animosity if they think I'm an American. But as soon as I explain I am a Canadian, then the animosity dissipates, it disappears," a Canadian tourist on the street of Seoul says. But some people are concerned that this sentiment maybe affecting the relations between the two countries as North Korea admitted to having a secret nuclear program and continues to pursue nuclear ambitions. South Korean president-elect Roh Moo-Hyun promised to revise the forces agreement during his election campaigns, but now he asks the Korean people to stop the protest. Many protestors say that Roh seems to be worried about the bilateral relations when it comes to resolving North Korean nuclear issue with the United States. About 37,000 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea along the demilitarized zone to defend South Koreans from North Korea's attack. But American soldiers committed a lot of crimes including murder and theft in the past. At that time, South Koreans made delicate opposition to U.S. soldiers' wrongdoing. But this time, they don't. One point South Koreans are emphasizing is that this sentiment does not involve animosity against the Americans. Therefore they believe that their movement will make the more equal relations between the United States and South Korea in the near future. © December 29, 2002 |
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