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> There are approximately 28,500 U.S. military personnel stationed in South Korea... > A fully functioning UN Command is at the top of the chain of command of

by roenxi 2y ago

> There are approximately 28,500 U.S. military personnel stationed in South Korea... > A fully functioning UN Command is at the top of the chain of command of all forces in South Korea, including the U.S. forces and the entire South Korean military... ~ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korea#United_States_contingent https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korea#United_States_cont... Despite the headline, it would seem fair to claim that the US is acting as an anchor here to the South Korean government. I wouldn't suggest there is anything improper here since the South Korean army is around half a million strong and can do what it wants, but in the event of a coup I imagine the US would be playing a significant deciding factor. How the military moves is what ultimately matters in an uprising, particularly the opinions of the top generals.

deleted 2y ago
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pjc50 2y ago
> but in the event of a coup I imagine the US would be playing a significant deciding factor Yes, but on which side?
- deleted 2y ago
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pyrale 2y ago
The US military presence is from before the country’s current democratic transition, and did nothing to prevent past coup.
- maxglute 2y ago
  >did nothing to prevent past coup That's the joke. US consistently supported SK coup(er)s (there's been several) as long as the couper is anti-communists / aligned with US geopolitical interests. The last two in late 70s were post Combined Forces Command, and including this one, with capacity of US intelligence, it's hard to rationalize US did not know what was going to happen.
  - g-b-r 2y ago
    Their first president, quickly turned dictator, grew up in the US The korean war veterans must have felt so proud..