[maro]

Note that there is an AGE difference: older South Koreans are more likely to understand that the US protects the peace, since they remember the war, than college kids. There is also a difference between families that fled the North and native South Koreans; the former generally are as anti-Communist as any Freeper. Evangelical Christian denominations are starting to organize demonstrations for the US; Billy Graham recounts that during the Korean War, he lobbied for US intervention on the basis that many Koreans were Christians. The anti-Americanism is due to many factors: nationalism; a Stockholm Syndrome desire to ingratiate oneself with the people who could kill you; and the influence of many Communist agents in the universities and media.

[BenR2]

desire to ingratiate oneself with the people who could kill you

Too bad this won't work for them if the NKors do invade after all!

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #12

The backbone of S. Korean christians is made up of N. Korean christians who fled from Kim Il-Sung's grip.

[Stultis]

The anti-Americanism is due to many factors: nationalism; a Stockholm Syndrome desire to ingratiate oneself with the people who could kill you; and the influence of many Communist agents in the universities and media.

Additional factors (according to various service people I've talked to who were stationed there) include:

Racism: The approximate level is comparable to Mississippi in the 50s, one guy told me. Even some S Koreans who fear the North nevertheless feel resentment at racially inferior "big noses" (i.e. Americans) shameing, dominating, or in any manner appearing superior to any ethnic Koreans, including North Koreans.

Emotionalism: You see this even the pro-American protest described above. Koreans seem to enjoy getting "worked up." They go to protests like we go for an afternoon in the park. It's treated almost as entertainment.