Gis and Koreans: the Making of the First Rok-Us Status of Forces
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GIS AND KOREANS: THE MAKING OF THE FIRST ROK-US STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENT, 1945-1966 by BO RAM YI (Under the Direction of WILLIAM STUECK) ABSTRACT The Korean War shifted the fundamental dynamics of US-Korean relations. American troops and money poured into the Korean peninsula and manifested America’s commitment to the fragile Republic of Korea (ROK). The geopolitical implications and strategic roles that the US Armed Forces in Korea (USFK) played were clearly articulated from the beginning of deployment—to deter possible North Korean aggression and to secure American allies in East Asia. USFK’s impact on the political and social lives of Koreans was, in contrast, not seriously studied. The first ten years of the permanent stationing of an average of 55,000 young American soldiers in Korea, however, made an indelible impact on the relationship between the two peoples. This dissertation examines the layered interactions between Koreans and Americans from 1945 through 1966, when Seoul and Washington signed the first Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). By focusing on how individual groups used and abused the unpleasant incidents between Koreans and GIs in order to advance their political ambition, this dissertation argues that the presence of a large number of American soldiers and the ensuing events played a pivotal in the shaping Korean domestic political changes and US-Korean relations. This study, thus, hopes to expand the definition of political actors in understanding bilateral relations. Not only Seoul and Washington, but also Korean employees of the USFK, Korean prostitutes, anti- government activists, the press, and GIs played critical roles in shaping US-Korean relations during the first decade after the Korean armistice. INDEX WORDS: Status of Forces Agreement, ROK-US Relations, Syngman Rhee, Park Chung Hee, Lyndon B. Johnson, Korean War, Vietnam War, Camptown, US Forces Korea (USFK), GI GIS AND KOREANS: THE MAKING OF THE FIRST ROK-US STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENT, 1945-1966 by BO RAM YI Bachelor of Art, Seoul Women’s University, Korea, 1995 Master of Art, Hankkuk University of Foreign Studies, Korea, 1997 Master of Art, the University of Georgia, 2000 A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the University of Georgia in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY ATHENS, GEORGIA 2006 © 2006 Bo Ram Yi All Rights Reserved GIS AND KOREANS: THE MAKING OF THE FIRST ROK-US STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENT, 1945-1966 by BO RAM YI Major Professor: William Stueck Committee: Paul S. Sutter Kathleen A. Clark Han S. Park Electronic Version Approved: Maureen Grasso Dean of the Graduate School The University of Georgia December 2006 DEDICATION I dedicate this dissertation to my parents, whose unfailing love and sacrifice made me through all the way. Sun Yi Woongja Song iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This work could never have been accomplished without the full support from those whom I am honored to work with. I would like to thank the members of my dissertation committee for all their insights, guide, comments, challenges, and generosity. Special thanks go to my advisor, Dr. William Stueck, who believed in me and patiently worked with me. Dr. Paul Sutter, whose careful reading of my work and insightful comments greatly enhanced the scope of my dissertation. Dr. Kathleen Clark, whose generous support helped me to see the end of my journey here. Dr. Han Park, whose pointed questions added the depth in my research and writing. You are the best mentors I could ever ask for. I’d like to extend my gratitude to the history department of the University of Georgia, which supported my graduate study with assistantship and research funds. Graduate coordinator, Dr. Karl Friday, answered all of my questions on logistics with patience. Degree specialist, Laurie, helped me from my first day of the UGA to the end. I received abundant love, support, and encouragement from my family and friends around the world. Mom and dad continuously prayed for me believing that I could make it all the way. My sister Han-ul in Germany, who walked this path first, gave me great counsel and comfort. My brother Ki-doong in Korea brightened my days with his humors. My parents-in law in China supported me. My aunt and uncle in Michigan opened their arms whenever I needed a hug. My American family Becky and Bill, Cathy and Hope, Lynn, and Ansley were the living proof that love transcended language barriers and cultural differences. v I thank Kyung-Ok, Eun-Kyung, Nacky, and Min Song, my friends, critics, and companions in the academic journey, who shared with me things beyond research and writing. Karen, my baker, editor, and friend, without whom, I could not imagine my graduate school life. Many thanks go to Pat, John and Joe Caroline, Jungsoon, Sun Young, and Min Young, who generously offered accommodations to me when I needed them the most. Lastly, Jason, my sweetheart, together we made it through. Thank you for being there for me. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.............................................................................................................v NOTE ON ROMANIZATION...................................................................................................... iv INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................................1 CHAPTER 1 THE FIRST US OCCUPATION OF KOREA AND ITS AFTERMATH, 1945-1950: A DIFFICULT BEGINNING .................................................................................16 US-Korean Relations Prior to 1945.........................................................................19 The Divided Occupation and Its Impact on South Korea .......................................26 American Experience of Korean Legal Practice .....................................................37 GIs and Koreans, 1945-1948...................................................................................40 Withdrawal of US Occupation Forces from South Korea, 1948-1950 ...................54 Conclusion...............................................................................................................60 2 THE RETURN OF US TROOPS AND THE SOFA QUESTION..............................62 GIs as Good Samaritans: GIs’ Contributions to the Rehabilitation of South Korea .......................................................................................................................65 GIs as the Privileged Guests: GIs and Koreans around Camptowns ......................72 Obstacles to ROK-US SOFA I: Military Supremacy..............................................82 Obstacles to ROK-US SOFA II: President Syngman Rhee ....................................86 Conclusion...............................................................................................................94 vii 3 THE RISE OF THE SOFA ISSUE IN SOUTH KOREA, 1957-1961: KOREAN DEMANDS, THE US CONGRESS, AND SYNGMAN RHEE ............................96 The Rise of Korean Demands for SOFA Negotiations ...........................................98 The US Embassy Responds...................................................................................102 Pressure from Korean Employees of USFK..........................................................105 Obstacles to ROK-US SOFA I: Adverse Reaction from Congress and the Public to the Girard Case, 1957......................................................................................108 Obstacles to ROK-US SOFA II: President Syngman Rhee ..................................125 Demand for SOFA Becomes a Domestic Political Issue for Koreans ..................131 Rhee’s Fall and US Acceptance of Opening SOFA Talks....................................136 Conclusion.............................................................................................................139 4 THE MAKING OF THE FIRST ROK-US STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENT, 1962-1964..............................................................................................................141 Coup d'état and the Delayed Reopening of the ROK-US SOFA, 1961-1962.......143 The ROK-US SOFA Negotiations, 1962-1966 ...................................................153 Negotiations on Criminal Jurisdiction, January 1964-March 1965: Difference Magnified ........................................................................................................160 Negotiations on Labor, January 1964-March 1965: Surprising Roadblocks ........175 Divisions Between Seoul and Washington, August 1964-March 1965 ................180 Toward Agreement, March 1965-July 1966 .........................................................183 Conclusion.............................................................................................................195 CONCLUSION............................................................................................................................197 BIBLIOGRAPHY........................................................................................................................206 viii NOTE ON ROMANIZATION In this dissertation, I translated Korean, Chinese, and Japanese words according to the McCune-Reischauer system. Personal names are cited in text, notes, and bibliography with family name first. The exceptions to this are Korean names that appear as popularly Romanized in the Western-language literature. For example, I use “Syngman Rhee” instead of “Yi Sŭng- man,” “Kim Il-sung,” instead of “Kim Il-sŏng,” “Chang Myon” instead