From Withdrawal to Recommitment : The U.S. Congress, South Korea, and the Shifting Dynamics of the USFK Debate during the 1970s

This paper analyzes how the U.S.–ROK security alliance was reconfigured in the 1970s amid a shifting East Asian Cold War order. The end of the Vietnam War and a new multipolar system led to the U.S. seeking to reduce its military footprint while South Korea faced the dual task of lessening its dependence on the U.S. yet maintaining its security commitments. In response, the Park Chung Hee administration redefined the role of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), shifting its focus from a direct combat force to a political and symbolic pillar of regional stability. This strategic maneuver centered on the U.S. Congress, which, reflecting growing anti-war sentiment, pushed to cut military aid and USFK’s presence. By examining the enactment of Section 411 of the 1976 International Security Assistance and Arms Export Control Act, this study reveals how this compromise was institutionalized. The law stipulated that any USFK reduction was contingent on South Korea’s progress in self-reliant defense, the preservation of the regional balance of power, and adequate compensation. This consensus ultimately constrained the Carter administration’s withdrawal policy, solidifying USFK’s role as a key structural component of the alliance for decades to come.