From Colonialism to Neocolonialism: The Yongsan Exchange
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Date
2021-05
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
Korea is no stranger to foreign occupation. The Yongsan Garrison, located in the middle of Seoul, has been occupied by a foreign military for over 100 years. Since 1945, the U.S. military has used the Yongsan Garrison as its headquarters; however, the U.S. will be returning the land to South Korea by the end of 2021. The U.S. will be consolidating its forces in Pyeongtaek at Camp Humphreys, a 3,500 acre mega-base south of Seoul. In examining the Yongsan Garrison and the relocation to Camp Humphreys, I scrutinize the claim that South Korea can be considered a neo-colony of the United States of America. Building off of other theoretical scholarship, I seek to expand the definition of neocolonialism beyond traditional notions of material extraction seen in previously colonized states. Neocolonialism accounts for economic, diplomatic, and militaristic domination that prevents countries from exercising self-determination and acting as a sovereign nation. By using the lens of neocolonialism to analyze (1) rank in the international realm, (2) burden sharing, and (3) military dependency as they relate to the military bases, I conclude that South Korea is a neo-colony of the United States.
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Keywords
Neocolonialism, South Korea, United States, Military, Base policy, Yongsan Garrison