Tensions grew significantly in the last few years, given that the U.S. is still reluctant to accept North Korea's actions, in spite of the fact that South Korea becomes more and more exposed with the passing of time. Strong anti-American feelings developed in South Korea as a result of the fact that Americans expressed little interest in consolidating its security and because the overall state of affairs pointed toward a significant crisis experienced by their country (Shorrock 18).
Roh Moo-hyun, the sixteenth South Korean president was much more determined in expressing an anti-American behavior than his precursor. He was part of a generation accustomed to developing a nationalist identity and that would be against most American interventions in the country. He virtually continued what the people before him tried to do-achieve a level of collaboration with North Korea.
Roh Moo-hyun's presidency was marked by a series of incidents, among the most notable of them being his attempts to detach his country from diplomatic relationships with the U.S. And with Japan. Although a large part of the South Korean public accepted this approach, people could not accept his activities because he tended to employ an extremist behavior in getting what he wanted. His idealistic plans further contributing to getting the public's support away from him, eventually coming to walk away from the presidential seat without achieving any notable success (Shorrock 18).
Anti-Americanism accounts around the world
Anti-Americanism is not only present in the Eastern world, as it can be observed in a series of environments, regardless of their geographical location or of the political ideologies that some people respect. Anti-Americanism has, to a large degree, experienced a steady growth around the world principally consequent to the end of the Cold War. Many countries previously saw the U.S. As one of the main reasons for which they were not invaded by the Soviet Union. However, with the communist...
France is one of the best examples proving that a Western power can actually be unsupportive toward American concepts. "Americans are often seen as uncultured materialists seeking individual personal advancement without concern for the arts, music, or other finer things of life" (Katzenstein, and Keohane). Anti-Americanism is also influenced as a result of the wrongdoings in the U.S.' past. The U.S. is known to be responsible for oppressing Mexicans and many Native American populations, and particularly for the slavery period, which to some is one of the most shameful events in the history of humanity.
Conclusion
All things considered, South Korean anti-Americanism was determined by the Asian country's history in being persecuted and more importantly because the U.S. gradually proved that it is primarily interested in exploiting the country rather than providing it with assistance in achieving peace with North Korea.
Works cited:
Katzenstein, Peter J. And Keohane, Robert O. "Anti-Americanisms," Policy Review
Kim, Mikyoung "Between a Rock and a Hard Place: The Impact of AntiAmericanism on Locally Employed Staff at the American Embassy in Korea," Public Personnel Management 34.3 (2005)
Larson, Eric V. Levin, Norman D. Baik, Seonhae and Savych, Bogdan. Ambivalent Allies? A Study of South Korean Attitudes toward the U.S. (Santa Monica, CA: Rand, 2004)
Olsen, Edward a. Toward Normalizing U.S. -- Korea Relations: In Due Course? (Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner, 2002)
Shorrock, Tim. "A Dangerous Game in Korea; U.S. Policies Are Fanning Anti-Americanism in Both the South and the North," the Nation 27 Jan. 2003: 18
"Anti-Americanism on the Rise; the Range of U.S. Responses Is Surprising," the Washington Times 20 Dec. 2002: A23
"South Korea Flirts with Anti-americanism," Human Events 6 Jan. 2003: 5
