The Hidden Truth That The ROK-US Alliance Had To Be Strengthened

On October 1, 1953, the ‘ROK-US Mutual Defense Treaty’ was signed between Korea and the US, and on November 18, 1954, it came into effect as Treaty No. 34, and this year marks its 70th anniversary. It was a time when tensions were still high, as it was related to the end of the Korean War and immediately after the armistice. This treaty was a historical event that President Rhee Syng-man Ph.D., who had experienced leadership in the US for over 30 years, actively utilized that, and there are several hidden reasons why the ROK-US alliance had to continue to this day.

First. The sacrifice of the world’s best US Marine Corps in the Korean War and the counterattack of the ROK Marine Corps

At the foundation of the ROK-US alliance is an altar built with the blood of Americans. The 1st RCT of the US Marine Corps fought in the Korean War and achieved great success in the Incheon Landing Operation and the recapture of Seoul, but suffered great losses in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir after being hit by the large-scale offensive of the Chinese human sea attack. In the bitter cold of winter, under heavy snow and in the rugged mountainous terrain, the 1st RCT of the US Marine Corps fought under the command of Commander Smith at Mt. Dosol in the Chosin Reservoir area against the Chinese human sea attack, but 7,000 soldiers lost their lives due to the extreme cold.

At this time, the Korean Marine Corps stepped forward. The Commander Kim Dae-sik relieved the US Marines of their sorrow by occupying 17 highlands every day in the Battle of Mt. Dosol, and President Rhee Syng-man Ph.D. gave them the title of "Invincible Marines." The activities of the Korean Marine Corps were deeply engraved in the conclusion of the ROK-US alliance, and they engraved the meaning of the Republic of Korea as a "bloody altar" in the minds of Americans. If this battle had not taken place, Korea might not have been recognized for its military value.

Second. President Rhee Syng-man Ph.D.’s determination and diplomatic skills

The relationship between President Rhee Ph.D. and General MacArthur played a significant role in the creation of the ROK-US Mutual Defense Treaty. During the war, President Rhee Ph.D. visited the front lines more than 178 times and gave speeches to boost the morale of the soldiers, and left Chinese idioms for each unit, which greatly contributed to strengthening combat capabilities. Whenever he met with US military commanders and officials, he emphasized clear messages and mental armament, persuading them of the necessity of the ROK-US alliance.

President Rhee Ph.D.’s diplomatic efforts did not end with simply signing the treaty. Even during the war, he strengthened Korea’s position in the US through civilian diplomacy such as American missionaries and Evangelist Billy Graham, and actively promoted the necessity of the ROK-US alliance while demonstrating his supreme leadership. As a result, he succeeded in attracting the world’s strongest military to the Korean Peninsula, laying the foundation for the Republic of Korea, surrounded by world military powers, to protect and develop to this day.

Third. The Leadership of the US Republican Party and the Cornerstone of Strengthening the ROK-US Alliance

The active support of the US Republican Party also played a large role in the formation of the ROK-US alliance. In the early stages of the Korean War, when South Korea was in danger of survival due to the devastating attack of North Korea’s invasion led by Soviet-made tanks, the advice of Reverend Billy Graham and the determination of President Truman were used to overcome this crisis. Afterwards, Rhee Syng-man Ph.D. actively carried out the plan despite General MacArthur’s 5,000:1 chance of success and persuaded President Eisenhower to sign the ROK-US Mutual Defense Treaty. These two leaders were owners of the spirit of the Republican Party and were supported by the support and leadership of the Republican Party throughout the entire process, and through this, the ROK-US alliance has continued to develop for over 70 years.

The ROK-US alliance is not simply about military cooperation. Now, we have a responsibility to serve the world through this alliance and protect freedom, peace, and human rights. We must deliver messages of freedom, human rights, and hope to our compatriots in North Korea and take the lead in protecting basic human rights that go beyond the communist system. The ROK-US alliance is not simply a legacy of the past, but will become an important stepping stone for a grand unified Korea that will continue to expand its global leadership.

• Dr. Hoi-Chang Kim

  
  

  Chairman of the ROK-US Alliance Strengthening- Foundation

  General Representative of the ROK-US MacArthur Memorial Foundation USA

  General President of the Republican Trump Victory Korean Team