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itstokkii · 1 year ago

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issues with calling or headcanoning sk as america’s child

or, a deep dive and evaluation of sk-us relations over the years as a south korean

Recently, I saw a post where someone gave their hcs of america pursuing a relationship with nk, which resulted in sk’s “birth.” then nk was afraid this new child would usurp their title and basically cause them to die, and so wanted to kill this new child before that happened. then america intervenes and “saves” sk. I believe this is the quick version of that headcanon.

I’m not trying to make this a callout post, I’m just giving my own thoughts based on experience living around US bases(Yongsan specifically)

As many have pointed out, this reeks of stereotypical “evil asian mom and chill/cooler white dad,” as well as us imperialism apologia. It also reminds me a lot of madame butterfly in a way? Additionally, it basically ignores the fact that South Korea has its own culture and existence long before US imperialism.

If the US is like sk’s “dad” in a sense, then wouldn’t that ring true for other cold war states, like south vietnam, or west germany?

I’ll leave my thoughts under the cut. This is the longest thing I’ve ever written.

CW, TW: war, colonialism, imperialism, SA, rape, murder

Primary issues with the headcanon

Throughout Korea’s history, there were times where Korea was unified, and times where Korea was not. There have also been splits of different states, north and south. I point to the Kingdoms of Goguryeo and Silla during the Three Kingdoms Period, and even before then with Gojoseon and Jin. So this split is not exactly new, and this is why I personally disagree with the headcanon that North and South Korea were babies around the time of the split, and rather that they represented Goguryeo and Silla.

The Korean War had stemmed from a desire to reunite the two states. Kim Il-Sung had pursued this and that started the war, and even Syngman Rhee pursued this ideal as well after the UN forces recaptured Seoul, resulting in that further push to invade North Korea. But this desire would have never existed if they weren’t split to begin with and remained whole as they did since 700 years ago with the establishment of the Joseon Dynasty. The Korean War was not willingly fought by both South and North Koreans.

It was a result of imperialist states splitting us up and then pitting us against each other(even the split was quite hasty, with families being split across the border), so it’s also wrong to draw parallels of SK fighting for its existence in the Korean War and the US during the Revolutionary War. One was fought to stay alive as a nation, and of which can be traced to outside forces laying their influence on the Peninsula, and one was fought willingly and of their own accord.

So it’s important to remember that the War was not because of an attempt to kill a “child” made by North Korea and America, it was the result of a nation that has been unified as one for 700 years being split suddenly, and the desire on both sides to reunify, albeit under their own management. Additionally, the idea of South Korea being “a child” of the US ignores the centuries-worth culture and history that was not influenced by the US and propagates the idea that we belong in the US’s shadow, and that without them, we have no identity.

South Koreans affectionately refer to the US as our “brother state,” but never think of the relationship as a parent and child. Remember that.

Next, we’ll talk about the role of the US in this.

While doing some research into the split, I found that after Korea was liberated in 1945, a socialist government(People’s Republic of Korea) was organized and supported by the majority of the population. This made the most sense. There was a vast gap of inequality between the Korean peasants, and the Korean nobles(who were given/maintained that power by betraying their Korean identity and working with the Japanese), so they advocated for social reform, such as land reform. However, the US wanted to set up their own military government(which for some time had actually supported the Japanese colonial government). So the US censored and then outlawed the popular government, putting themselves in charge and keeping advisors such as former Japanese colonial officers, wealthy landowners, and businesspeople. You know, the exact people the popular government was against?

This government then set up elections. The majority of Koreans didn’t want that, because they knew that these elections would divide the country and leave no hope of unifying. So they protested, but they were put down by police and the US military. It might also be worth it to read about the Jeju Massacre, in which Jeju people protesting the UN-backed elections were brutally suppressed by Syngman Rhee and the US Military. This killed about 10% of Jeju’s population. Though the South Korean government has issued an apology, we have yet to hear from the US.

So the US set up a government that supported a military dictator(it started with Syngman Rhee) and continued to support a long chain of these military dictators(who sent pro-democratic people to concentration camps) even during the Gwangju Massacre, when many pro-democratic students protested against the dictatorship and the then-president Chun Doo Hwan responded by commanding the military and police to fire on citizens. Though official government figures place the deaths at 200 people, citizens of Gwangju say it’s closer to 2000 people.

I only found out about the concentration camps this year, and it’s because the South Korean Government, who wants to stay on the US’s good side, actively represses the role of the US in the military dictatorship. I’m pretty sure the US’s role is also barely taught in Korean history textbooks, since the government has tried to rewrite and issue textbooks themselves.

Recently, the grandson of Chun Doo Hwan(the president that ordered the military to shoot on the protesters, and also was supported by US Presidents Carter and Reagan), apologized on behalf of his grandfather and family, who had constantly told him it was just a riot when he was a kid. He also took the time to expose his family, friends, and even his own money laundering crimes. He personally visited Gwangju and gave a full floor-level bow in apology. This was a first step in the correct direction. However, the government, especially with Yoon Seok Yeol’s pro-US and anti-NK sentiment, is trying not to shed light on these issues, and it’s why I believe a lot of people tend to continue to favor the US, because they don’t really know or are aware of the US’s full part in our military dictatorship.

Another interesting read would be the Namyeong-Dong Anti Communist Investigation Office, a former prison facility and torture room for pro-democracy protestors.

Now for the existing US impact on South Korea: The USFK

The USFK(short for United States Forces Korea) is the Korean branch of the US Military. They have an active presence in South Korea since 1957, which is about 65 years ago.

Not many Koreans have an Anti-American sentiment, but the USFK has consistently caused it to resurge throughout the nation.

In 2000, it was found out that the US military had dumped about 20 gallons(75L) of formaldehyde into the Han River, which at the time was a main drinking source for about 12 million people in Seoul.

They carelessly ran over two 14-year old girls(Shin Hyosun and Shim Miseon) with one of the US military’s armored vehicles in 2002. What made things worse was that the US Military Court found them not guilty. In response to the incident and other grievances with the US military, PSY actually rapped a song called “Dear American” written by a South Korean band criticizing them, mostly regarding the US military and their involvement in the Iraqi War, which he later had to apologize to the US military for rapping after he got famous singing Gangnam Style.

The US military was also involved in forced prostitution and human trafficking. In 1992, Yoon Geum-i, a military sex worker, was raped and killed brutally by Private Kenneth Markle. He was tried and initially received life in prison, but then later his sentence was reduced to 15 years in prison after Yoon Geum-i’s family received $72,000 as compensation from the US government. In 2006, he was released on parole and then deported to the US. @tianshiisdead further goes into detail on this on her post about these headcanons.

In 2020, it was found that the major camp of the USFK, Camp Humphreys, was hosting a no mask COVID party while the Korean government was urging locals to limit in person gatherings as the cases were surging. The party was on a Friday, and on Monday it was found that 408 USFK-affiliated individuals tested positive for COVID.

The South Korean government pays them to stay here... and do what? Cause trouble?

The USFK and US funding the ROK military has led to the ROK military being one of the strongest. However, we are not allowed our own weapons, and the US constantly attempts to provoke North Korea through any presidential remarks, or actions. This keeps South Korea reliant on the US, and allows for a continued presence in South Korea.

Conclusion

All of this is why it’s so important to keep checking back on how you see Korea and America’s relationship in Hetalia. As positive as current relations may be, it’s important to remember the many failures on the US’s part to keep their military acting like decent human beings at times, and that they literally caused the split along with the USSR, and made it permanent through the suggestion and implementation of elections, which Koreans on both sides largely did not support.

South Korea has one of the highest positive perception rates towards the US. This may be due to their hand in helping us develop as a nation and also providing aid during the Korean War, but it may also be due to the suppression of the full extent of activities the US has partook in South Korea, and due to the Anti-North Korea sentiment that was also propagated by the US.

Also, the fact that Americans also call the Korean War “The Forgotten War” is so frustrating to me. Did we just... not matter in the long run? We’re just a pawn, or a strategic location, right? The separated families, the civilian casualties(which was a higher rate than WW2′s and the Vietnam War), the devastation of so many cities... just didn’t matter? Maybe you forgot, but it’s impacted us and our decisions for years. Just goes to show how selfish the US can be...

As much as I do wish one of my favorite ships were one of complete happiness where nothing is wrong, this is not the case, and I am trying my best to express that in art or headcanons. It is important to acknowledge that the 70-year long relationship, though sharing some positive, unproblematic moments through cultural exchange and joint collaboration in the modern era, is characterized by a lack of trust on South Korea’s end, largely due to how the US has wronged us over the years.

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seiko-e · 4 months ago

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Ok, this will be my last fan fic for i am planning to create my own manga series soon, so hope you guys enjoy✌️✨

*no Nsfw but lots of fluff

*long but easy to read👍✨

Y/n choi (hoshina fans) and y/n park(narumi fans) are former defense Force in korea, basically, both are half Korean and Japanese, one of their parents is japanese as they were lived and born from korea, its been how many years that they have served for the defence force that they even got the title of the BEST officers

They decided to move to Japan cause of that one mission incident.

They were sent out to a mission that they knew was impossible to win, 20 officers were sent, 2 survived

Choi: Request to retreat! All of our comrades are dead! However if you wish to continue, we request for a strong back up!

"request denied by commander, continue the mission"

Park: ARE YOU CRAZY, THIS BATTLE IS A 2 V 5 HUGE KAIJUS! AND YOU EXPECT US TO WIN??...or perhaps, you expect us to die and dispose of us so that the future generations can take our place?

"...commander orders: proceed with the mission.."

In disbelief and surprise, park's knees fell to the ground as she slowly began to lose hope in living, on the other hand, choi was also in disbelief however, determined to stay alive, she swore that once this mission is clear, she will leave the defense force

Somehow, the 2 did manage to live and clear the mission, but once they were about to give their resignation letter, the commander offered them tickets to japan before she accepted the letter, telling them that their skills would be a waste if they don't use it.

With that statement alone, it is already clear to the two, they've been offered to transfer to japan.

As expected, both passed however, choi was in the third division while park is in first decision

Y/n choi (hoshina x reader)

Your first day as a defense force officer in Japan was VERY NERVOUS, without y/n park(narumi fans) being with new new people is difficult, you and park may not be close neither are you friends but she's the only person you knew here in japan.

getting along with everyone is difficult, you can't guess their intentions, a high possibility chance rate that every single one of them will also stab you in the back or rely on you like a tool.

Eventually you decide to work alone, just like in Korea

Kikoru: choi—san, come sit with us, eating alone is lonely dont you think?

You: sorry, you're mistaken, i don't feel a bit lonely, and plus, instead of talking, im more focused with surroundings in case a kaiju attacks, but thank you for the offer

Kikoru: oh, ok, no problem, if you do notice something, feel free to call us

You: i will, thank you

While eating, you can feel the gaze of a fox Captain, It's been a while now since the vice captain of the third division got eyes on you, aside from you being similar to him as the only officer who uses melee weapons, commonly swords, there is something interesting in you that caught his attention.

"office Choi"

You stand and greet him

"since you are only capable of swords, what do you say about you be personally trained by me!"

"...i thank you for the offer but I—“

"That's an order" (⁠✿⁠^⁠‿⁠^⁠)

"ha?.."

Since then, you and shoshiro are training every night, he teaches you some techniques that you haven't learned, it's been like that for several weeks, and he trains you, hes also observing you in the day, your interactions and how you treat everyone coldly.

One night, the lights suddenly went off, an immediate fear then attacked you, the anxiety and trauma that you've suppressed and hidden we're triggered immediately, ever since Young, you always stay away from the dark, its not the dark that you fear, its what in the dark

you remembered witnessing an abused woman seeking for help in the dark when you were at the age of 6, the regret is still haunting you for not helping to the woman, at the age of 7, you were greeted by an old drunk man in the dark, to your child self, those people were monsters

You knelt down, letting go of the sword, covering your ears as tears begin to flow down from your eyes, soshiro was able to see you tear up, as his eyes widened in surprise, he then wraps you up with his jacket, kneeling down and pats you in the back

"its ok, its ok, im here with you in case something happens"

You were flustered at first but then realized that maybe he just pity you, which got you sad

But nop, it's the opposite, in fact, soshiro thought that it was cute, a cold blooded tiger turns out to be just a scared kitten protecting itself

After a while, the lights turned back on, it turns out it was just a black out

"This is the end of our training for now, you can bring the jacket and go back to your room, or are you scared of huge places alone at night and want a fox to come with you?<⁠(⁠￣⁠︶⁠￣⁠)⁠>"

"no im fine"

He insisted on coming anyway, ever since that night, he started being warm and fuzzy with you, literally trying to melt your wall of ice, to meet the kitten that it reflects, and before you knew it, he successfully melted the ice

You've started to become more talkative with him and only him.

"Hey hey 👋 officer y/n choi, im going to the first division, you mentioned about a person you know there, right? Wanna come?"

Its been a while since you and y/n park has spoken, so you agreed

At the first division base, you and y/n park are in the Library

"btw i tamed a kitten"

"What's that gotta do with me"

I'll create a narumi fans version soon, sorry if the ending is a bit lazy i got tired recently

#hoshina soshiro x reader #kaiju no.8 x reader #gen narumi x reader

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