Glenn Baek

Since a 1953 armistice ended hostilities in the Korean War, the United States has maintained a significant number of U.S. soldiers in South Korea. Many South Koreans and some Americans have questioned the rationale for the continuing American military presence. In the following viewpoint, Glenn Baek acknowledges the existence of antitroop sentiment in South Korea, but argues that the presence of American soldiers remains necessary to protect South Korea from possible North Korean attack as well as to preserve peace and stability in the region. Baek is a research associate in the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a research foundation based in Washington, D.C.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What has motivated South Korean opposition to...