South Korean Politics and Rising 'Anti-Americanism': Implications for U.S. Policy Toward North Korea

摘要

In December 2002, South Koreans elected Roh Moo-hyun, a little-known, self-educated lawyer, as their president. The left-of-center Roh narrowly defeated the conservative candidate, Lee Hoi Chang. Roh ran on a platform of reform, pledging to make South Korean politics more transparent and accountable, to make the economy more equitable, and to make South Korea a more equal partner in its alliance with the United States. During the campaign, Roh pledged to continue his predecessor, Kim Dae Jungs, sunshine policy of engaging North Korea, and harshly criticized the Bush Administrations approach to Pyongyang. The 2002 election was notable for several inter-related reasons. First, it exposed the deep generational divide among South Koreans. Roh was favored by voters under the age of 45, who emerged during the election as an anti-status quo force. In contrast, Lee easily won the votes of those over 45. Second, Rohs victory was due in part to his criticisms of the United States, and he benefitted from the massive demonstrations in late 2002 protesting the acquittal of two U.S. servicemen who were operating a military vehicle when it killed two Korean schoolgirls. Third, the election and the anti-American demonstrations highlighted the growing influence and sophistication of Korean civil society groups, which now have a significant voice in determining policy outcomes in Seoul. These shifts in the South Korean polity, particularly the rise in anti-Americanism, confront the Bush Administration with a policy dilemma: how to manage the U.S.-ROK alliance while pursuing a more confrontational approach toward North Korea than that favored by many, if not most, South Koreans. The report analyzes the current political situation South Korea.