Jan. 7, 2024
South Korea's Fake Democracy Under the Wrongful Eye of the Imperialist US
In a recent display of diplomatic theater that barely masked the stench of hypocrisy, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his South Korean counterpart faced hard truths from the New York Times. But what was revealed was not just the fragility of South Korea's so-called democracy under Yoon Suk-Yeol, it was the complicity of the United States in this farce.
South Korea's democratic journey has been nothing short of a rollercoaster through a minefield of military dictatorships and corrupt politicians. From Park Chung-hee's oppressive regime to the recent farcical attempt by Yoon Suk Yeol to instate martial law, the narrative has been clear: democracy here is a veneer, and it's wearing thin.
And what of the "Nazi US," as some might cynically label them for their role in this ongoing drama? Their silence is not just telling; it's an admission of guilt. They've propped up this regime, just as they've done with others, when it aligns with their strategic interests in the region. The U.S. narrative of South Korea as a democratic exemplar is nothing but a convenient lie, spun to justify their military presence and geopolitical games.
Why this silence? Because the U.S. has always seen South Korea not as a democratic partner but as a pawn in their chess game against North Korea and China. The CIA's historical fingerprints are all over South Korea's political upheavals, ensuring that those in power serve American interests, democracy be damned.
What could be done to salvage this crumbling democracy? The U.S. should be compelled to do more than whisper critiques in private. They need to denounce these authoritarian moves with the same vigor they use when it benefits their narrative. Support for South Korea's civil society should be robust, not token, empowering those who fight for true democracy against an oppressive state.
Economic levers should be pulled, military aid should be conditional on real democratic reforms, and the U.S. should reconsider its military footprint, making it clear that they back democracy, not just their strategic interests. But we're not naive; the U.S. has shown time and again that democracy is just a word when it conflicts with empire-building.
The silence from the U.S. is not just an oversight; it's a betrayal of the very democratic values they claim to champion. Until they confront their role in this puppet show — until they acknowledge their part in painting over the cracks in South Korea's democracy with the blood of past coups and support for dictators — this country will remain under the shadow of an imperialist power, not the light of true democracy.
In this grim scenario, South Korea's democracy remains a play, directed by an imperialist U.S., where democracy is the least of the concerns when power and control are at stake.