Mansfield Center and Korean Consulate Celebrate the 70th Anniversary of U.S.-Korea Alliance

October 9, 2023

By Carolyn Crowder

In 1934, Mike Mansfield completed his thesis, “American Diplomatic Relations with Korea (1866-1910),” for his Master of Arts at the University of Montana. In later decades, he became the longest-serving U.S. Senate Majority Leader and served as U.S. Ambassador to Japan. Throughout his career, Mansfield recognized Korea’s critical role in East Asia and on the global stage and emphasized the importance of improving Korea-Japan relations.  

Mansfield writes that “1866 marked the real beginning of American relations with Korea,” when a U.S. merchant ship USS General Sherman landed in Korea to seek trade opportunities. The crew was killed, and General Sherman was burned. In response, the U.S. State Department sent an official delegation of ships to Korea to pursue information about the merchant ship and to negotiate a trade treaty.  

But an alliance wasn’t formed until almost 100 years later, when South Korea and the U.S. signed a Mutual Defense Treaty on Oct. 1, 1953.  

On Oct.9, the Mansfield Center and the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea hosted a conference in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-Korea alliance and the lasting relationship between the Center and the Republic of Korea. Students, academics, and other community members gathered at the University of Montana’s UC Ballroom to listen to the opening remarks and the panel Q&A session: The State of the U.S.-Korea Alliance at 70.  

​​The session featured Mansfield Fellow Robert McCoy, director of the Center for Korean Studies at the University of Washington Ha Yong-Chool, Secretary-General of the Korea Foundation Ambassador Wi Sunglac, and was moderated by Dr. Karen Adams, political science professor at the University of Montana.  

The alliance, cemented by the Mutual Defense Treaty, was “forged in the fire and blood of the Korean War,” said Cho Yoon Hee, Vice Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Seattle in her opening remarks at the conference. 

The treaty seeks to “strengthen the fabric of peace in the Pacific area” through a U.S. and South Korean commitment to diplomacy as a primary means of conflict resolution and mutual defense from common danger, said Mansfield Fellow Robert McCoy in the panel.  

​​​McCoy said he celebrates the alliance because there has been no second Korean War, but not without what he called “glitches.” He noted strategic empathy, recommending that the U.S. consider historical context and cultural perspectives in South Korea to better achieve diplomatic goals.  

“The U.S. needs to do a better job of walking in other's shoes. This includes both allies and adversaries.” 

​​McCoy also emphasized the cooperative nature of the alliance, and that partnership must be equal in nature rather than hierarchical.  

Ha Yong-Chool, director of the Center for Korean Studies at the University of Washington, underscored the importance of South Korea’s unique democratization process in the last 40 years for the alliance. He highlighted that this ongoing transformation is something the U.S. needs to consider.  

​​​“The U.S. planted the seed of democracy in South Korea,” he said. “But the country has gone through its own indigenous process of democratization.” 

​​McCoy and Ha identified the necessity for a heightened mutual understanding, as external threats cast a shadow over the partnership.  

McCoy mentioned China as a “gray rhino” threat to the alliance, which refers to a highly probable, impactful threat that is ignored or underestimated despite its foreseeable nature. Secretary-General of the Korea Foundation Ambassador Wi contended that the U.S. should take a stronger stance on China to alleviate the challenges it poses to the alliance.  

“The U.S. should present principle criteria to deal with China that is acceptable to friends and allies,” Ambassador Wi said.  

Vice Consul Cho and McCoy emphasized that strengthening relationships with Japan is increasingly important to address issues with China, and highlighted emerging trilateral partnerships between the U.S., Japan, and Korea.  

​​In addition to the challenges that China poses to the alliance, Ambassador Wi discussed the ongoing nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, referring to the long-standing international concern surrounding North Korea’s nuclear weapons program and its potential implications for regional and global security.  

“The Korea-U.S. alliance has dealt with the nuclear issue through negotiation and sanctions, but has not achieved any successful results,” he said.  

Ambassador Wi was in negotiation rooms related to the Northern Korean nuclear issue as a diplomat. ​​He stated that the chances for de-escalation appear unfavorable as the world splits into two groups amid the Russo-Ukraine war and the UN Security Council faces issues due to China and Russia.  

Despite the bleak road ahead, Ambassador Wi argued that the most practical option to address the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula is to strengthen the existing U.S. nuclear umbrella as a form of deterrence. In this context, the nuclear umbrella is a commitment of the U.S. to protect South Korea in case of a nuclear threat.  

Ambassador Wi contended that the U.S. commitment is present, but more assured and concrete working procedures are needed. At the same time, he said that deterrence shouldn’t be the sole method to deal with the North Korean nuclear issue.  

“We should not give up space for diplomacy with North Korea while strengthening deterrence,” Ambassador Wi said. “We need both.”  

Ambassador Wi also emphasized the need for international cooperation on the problem, and that South Koreans should not be deterred from conversations about the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.  

“We need to be ready to play the long game.” 

​​But McCoy argued that the long game is a strategy that the U.S. typically fails at: “we think in terms of four years,” he said, referring to the U.S. presidential cycle. Instead, he proposed that the U.S. should better define its national interest and goals abroad and take politics out of the State Department.  

Amid the challenges rising ahead, Vice Consul Cho emphasized that a strong alliance requires ongoing vigilance.  

 “We are at the crossroads of nurturing this critical bond.”  

Mindful of Mike Mansfield’s recognition of Korea’s important role in the region, the Mansfield Center hosts continuous Korea Dialogues at the University of Montana. In addition, the center’s Project Bridge program sends high-school students to Korea with aims to cultivate future community leaders and introduce them to U.S.-Korea relations.