There is a Korean word - "sah-dae-ju-ih" - that loosely translates to - "Big Power Worship", "Cuddle up to a big power and you will be taken care of." This idea goes with an old Korean proverb: When two whales fight, many shrimps get crushed, unless the shrimps stick close to one of the whales. With the exception of Go-Cosun and Koguryo, which were big powers on their own rights, Korea has been a yak-so-min-jok (a tiny weak people) and has practiced sah-dae-ju-ih on and off with the big powers - Mongols, Chinese, Russians, Japanese, Germans, and Americans.

Thus, for example, King Kojong relied on China for protection, When China was defeated in the Sino-Japanese War (1894-1995), the King embraced Russia and America for protection. For over a year, King Kojong embraced Tsar's Russia as a savior and ruled Korea hiding out in the Russian legation in Seoul. Russia was defeated by Japan in the Russo-Japanese War (1905), and the United States abandoned Korea soon after. The poor King Kojong believed that Uncle Sam would protect him from Japan and had placed dozens of Americans in key government positions to no avail.

America saw little use for its Korean 'friends' and looked the other way when Japan annexed Korea in 1910. King Kojong failed to grasp the stark truth of 'real politic' that every nation is on its own and ought to take care of itself. A nation's 'national interests' change and yester years' friends become mortal enemies today and foes become close allies eith time - all based on the needs of the present moment. America accepted Korea as a Japanese colony, and the Americans in Korea - missionaries, educators, businessmen, and government officials - acted accordingly.

US troops briefly occupied South Korea from 1945 to 1948. When the Korean War broke out in 1950, the US troops returned not so much to save South Korea but to stop Communism from spreading. When the war dragged on, America decided to get out of Korea but Rhee Syngman forced America to sign a mutual defense treaty and leave behind a token force of about 40,000 men. Since the armistice of 1953, American presidents - Reagan, Bush, Sr., Carter, and Clinton - tried to get out of Korea But they were met by intense opposition from the Korean officials, who had would create bogus 'military crisis' and the threat of an "imminent invasion" from North Korea on occasion.

Today, President Bush is rethinking US troop deployments in Korea and other parts of the world. With modern weaponry, stationing ground troops in harm's way - within range of heavy guns and missiles loaded with WMD warheads - is not a prudent thing to do. Stationing nearly 40,000 US troops next to North Korean guns and missiles pleases Kim Jong Il but not US commanders. Plans are under way to pull back the US troops from the danger area - even completely out of Korea. When and if war comes, the troops would be relatively safe, and cruise missiles and other modern weapons will do much of the fighting.

If no war, then it is likely that America will leave Korea. There is no more Red menace and Korea offers little in the way of American national interests. Sooner or later, America will let the Korean people manage their own affairs on their own. The new breeds of Korean leaders want it that way and no more sah-dae-ju-ih for Korea. Korea wants to become a Big Power and regain the past glory of Go-Chosun and Koguryo.

References
Agri-Food Trade Service of Canada. (2000). THE CANADIAN GINSENG INDUSTRY: PREPARING FOR THE 21ST CENTURY. Retrieved March 18, 2003, from: http://atn-riae.agr.ca/info/can/e2765.htm

American Memory. (2000). Daniel Boone and Ginseng. American Memory. Retrieved March 18, 2003, from: http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/a?ammem/cmns:@field(DOCID+@lit(074020))

AsianInfo (2003). Korean History - March 1st Independence Struggle. Retrieved March 28, 2003 from http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/korea/history.htm

Bennett, Terry. (1997). Felice Beato and the United States Expedition to Expedition to Korea of 1871. Retrieved March 18, 2003, from: http://www.old-japan.co.uk/kanghwa.text.html

Cuddy, Philip Ahn (2003). Philip Ahn: Born in America. Retrieved April 4, 2003, from: http://www.philipahn.com/

Digital Study of Korea (2003). Famous Korean Historical Figures: Min Young-Ik. Retrieved March 18, 2003, from: http://www.koreandb.net/Koreandb_Services.asp?URL=/KPeople

Duvernay, Thomas (2001). Shingmi-tangyo - The 1871 US Korean Campaign. Retrieved on March 18, 2003, from: http://www.shinmiyangyo.org/

Elliot, Jim. (2003). Theodore Roosevelt Gives Korea to Japan. Retrieved March 18, 2003, from: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Olympus/2460/korea.html

The first Presbyterian missionaries in Korea (2002). Presbyterian Historical Society. Retrieved on March 18, 2002, from: http://history.pcusa.org/cong/heritage/2002/part1.html

Fontenoyan, Paule E, (1997). "Experimental" Voyage to China. 1785-1787. The American Neptune. East India Square, Salem, MA: Peabody Essex Museum. Retrieved on March 18, 2003, from: http://www.pem.org/neptune/voyage1.htm

Gray, Robert M. (2002). Augustine Heard, US Minister/General Consul, 1890-1893. Retrieved March 18, 2003, from: http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~gray/html/amykorea/amykorea.html

Great War Society (2003). The Story of the American Expeditionary Forces in Siberia. Retrieved March 28, 2003, from: http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/p_bears.htm

Groffis, William Elliot. (1894). The American relations with the Far East. The New England Magazine, XI. [Cornell University Library Making of America Online Series]. Retrieved March 18, 2003, from: http://library5.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/moa/pageviewer?frames=1&cite=http%3A%2F%2Fcdl.library.cornell.edu%2Fcgi-bin%2Fmoa%2Fsgml%2Fmoa-idx%3Fnotisid%3DAFJ3026-0017-38&coll=moa&root=%2Fmoa%2Fnewe%2Fnewe0017%2F&tif=00269.TIF&view=50

Han, Gyu-Mu. (1999). The General Sherman Incident of 1866 and Rev. Thomas' Martyrdom. Kwangju University. Retrieved March 18, 2003, from: http://www.kimsoft.com/2000/sherman2.htm

Harris, Scott. Sylvan Botanicals - New York Ginseng. Retrieved March 18, 2003, from: http://www.bearsystems.com/ginseng/ginseng.html

Harrison, H.C., et al. (2000). Alternative Field Crop Manual - Ginseng. Retrieved March 18, 2003, from: http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/afcm/ginseng.html

History and Development of Korean Immigration to USA (2003). Retrieved March 18, 2003, from: http://www.koreanfedusa.org/eng/article/img/1.htm

Hulber, Homer. (1898). The Enfranchisement of Korea. The North American Review Vol 166. [Cornell University Library Making of America Online Series]. Retrieved March 18, 2003, from: http://library5.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/moa/pageviewer?frames=1&cite=http%3A%2F%2Fcdl.library.cornell.edu%2Fcgi-bin%2Fmoa%2Fsgml%2Fmoa-idx%3Fnotisid%3DABK4014-0097-7&coll=moa&view=50&root=%2Fmoa%2Fharp%2Fharp0097%2F&tif=00776.TIF&pagenum=757

Hyatt, Glenn (2003). 3). Allied Expeditionary Force POWs, Siberia - 1919. Retrieved March 28, 2003, from: http://www.ukans.edu/~kansite/ww_one/memoir/aef_cong.htm

Imjin-wae-ran, (2002). Retrieved March 18, 2003, from: http://lotus.pwu.ac.kr/~lcy/imjin.htm.

Kim, Andrew. (2000). History of Christianity in Korea: From Its Troubled Beginning to Its Contemporary Success. Retrieved March 18, 2003, from: http://www.kimsoft.com/1997/xhist.htm

Korea.net. Korean Ginseng. Retrieved March 18, 2003, from:http://www.korea.net/learnaboutkorea/library/magazine/pictorial/199906/19990601.html

Korean American Archive Photograph Sets - University of Southern California (2003). University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved March 18, 2003, from: http://www.usc.edu/isd/archives/arc/findingaids/kaaphotos/index.html

Korean History. (2003). People's Korea. Retrieved on March 18, 2003, from: http://www.korea-np.co.jp/pk/history_and_culture/category32.htm

Kristof, Nicholas D. (September 14, 1997). Japan, Korea and 1597: A Year That Lives in Infamy. Retrieved March 18, 2003, from: http://mbhs.bergtraum.k12.ny.us/cybereng/nyt/earmound.htm

Lee, Gyu-Tae (2003). The Hong Sah-Ik Saga (홍사익(洪思翊). Retrieved March 28, 2003, from: http://my.dreamwiz.com/pcw0905/hisdata/hise/his30.html

Lee, Hae Kang (aka Henny Savenije). (2000). In the wake of the Portuhuese. Retrieved March 18, 2003, from: http://www.hendrick-hamel.henny-savenije.pe.kr/holland3.htm

Lee, Hae Kang (aka Henny Savenije). (2000a). Von Siebold's drawings of Korean people. Retrieved March 18, 2003, from: .http://www.oldkorea.henny-savenije.pe.kr/siebold

Lee Man Yul (2003). Hawaii Immigration and the Korean Church (하와이 이민과 한국 교회). Retrieved March 26, 2003, from: http://user.chollian.net/~ikch0102/y-2-13.htm

Lee, Wha Rang. (2000). Ernst Oppert's Kingdom of Corea: Grave-Robbing in the Name of God. Retrieved March 18, 2003, from: http://www.kimsoft.com/2000/oppert.htm

Lee, Wha Rang. (2000a). The Strange Saga of the General Sherman - 1861-1874. Retrieved on March 18, 2003, from: http://www.kimsoft.com/2000/shermanr.htm

Lee, Wha Rang (2000b). Lee Sung Yup - A Communist Turncoat. Retrieve March 29, 2003, from: http://www.kimsoft.com/2002/leesungyup.htm

Lee, Wha Rang (2000c). Who was Kim Gu? Retrieved March 28, 2003, from: http://www.kimsoft.com/2000/kimgu.htm

Lee, Wha Rang. (2002). Who was Dangun?. Retrieved March 18, 2003, from: http://www/2002/danggun.htm

Lee, Wha Rang. (2002a). Japanese Raped the Last Queen of Korea Before Burning Her Alive! A hitherto secret Japanese archive reveals. Retrieved March 18, 2003, from: http://www.kimsoft.com/2002/jp-rape.htm

Oh, Ki-sun. (2003). The Hwang San-Young Story (황사영의 일생). Retrieved March 18, 2003, from: http://www.zamchi.com/KOR/writes/cybertalk/jnj_2.htm

Oppert, Ernest. (1880). A Forbidden Land: Voyages to the Corea. With an account of its Geography, History, Productions, and Commercial Capabilities. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons.

Randall, Vernellia R. (1997). Asian Pacific Americans and Immigration Law. Retrieved March 18, 2003, from: http://academic.udayton.edu/race/02rights/immigr05.htm

Republic of Korea (2003). Photographic Library of Korean Diplomacy. Retrieved March18, 2003, from: http://www.mofat.go.kr/en/html/museum/photo.html

Ruderman, Baryy (2003). Old Historic Maps and Atlases: Asia and Korea. Retrieved March18, 2003, from: http://www.raremaps.com/cgi-bin/map-builder.cgi?Asia+Korea+4305

Sahr, Robert. (2003). Inflation Conversion Factors for Dollars 1665 to Estimated 2013. Oregon State University. Retrieved on March 18, 2003, from: http://oregonstate.edu/Dept/pol_sci/fac/sahr/sahr.htm

Speer, William. (1872). Corea: What shall we do with her?. Retrieved March 18, 2003, from: http://www.kimsoft.com/2000/speer.htm

Sterner, S. Douglas (2003). Home of Heroes: Hermit Kingdom and the General Sherman Incident. Retrieved March 18, 2003, from: http://www.homeofheroes.com/wallofhonor/korea1871/2_hermit.html

Sunoo, Hak-won (2003). A Letter to My Grandson by Dr. Hak-won Sunoo. Retrieve March 18, 2003, from: http://www.kimsoft.com/2002/sunoo.htm

Sunoo, Hak-won (2003a). Korean Immigrants In America - by By Dr.Hakwon Sunoo (Minjok-Tongshin Special). Retrieve March 18, 2003, from: http://www.minjok.com/article/viewspecial.php3

Sun-jo (2003). Korean History - Sunjo 1800-1834. Retrieved March 18, 2003, from: http://hevent.changwon.go.kr/roks821/edu/hist/jo/z23.htm

Trade and Environmental Database (TED). Ginseng Wisdom. Retrieved March 18, 2003, from: http://www.american.edu/TED/ginseng.htm

US Army (2003). Korea, Case History of A Pawn. Retrieved April 1, 2003, from: http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/pd-c-01.htm

UC Berkeley. (1997). Korean Studies: University of California, Berkeley Retrieved March 18, 2003, from: http://socrates.berkeley.edu/~korea/history.html

US State - Korea. (2003). Diplomatic Appointments - Korea: US State Department. Retrieved March 18, 2003, from: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/po/com/10899.htm

Wales, Nym & Kim, San (1941). The Song of Ariran - A Korean Communist in Chinese Revolution San Francisco: Ramparts Press. The Song of Ariran Homepage. Retrieved March 28, 2003, from http://arirangnara.com/

Waters, Jack. (2003). History of American Ginseng. Tellico Plains Mountain Press. Retrieved on March 18, 2003, from: http://www.telliquah.com/Ginseng/Ginseng.htm

Wehry, W. M. (2000). The Yobo: A Novel of Corea - A fiction based on actual events in the 19th Century Corea. Retrieved March 18, 2003, from: http://www.kimsoft.com/2000/yobo.htm

Welles, Gideon, (1867). Report on the Murder of the Officers, Crew and Passengers of the American Schooner General Sherman at the Ping Yang River, Corea. Washington: Government Printing Office. Retrieved March 18, 2003, from: http://americahurrah.com/GenShermanSchooner/Title.htm

Williams, Wells (1880). Oppert's Kingdom of Corea. New Englander and Yale review. 39 (157). [Cornell University Library Making of America Series.). Retrieved March 18, 2003, from: http://cdl.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/moa/sgml/moa-idx?notisid=ABQ0722-0039-88

Yun, Talk-Koo. (2000). Brief Intoduction of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer. Retrieved March 18, 2003, from: http://jkms.kams.or.kr/2001/pdf/12s003.pdf

Appendix A: US Diplomats in Korea
Source: US State - Korea. (2003).

1883: Lucius H. Foote, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, Feb 27, 1883 - Feb 19, 1885
1886: William H. Parker, Minister Resident/Consul General, Feb 19, 1886 - Sep 3, 1886
1887: Hugh A. Dinsmore, Minister Resident/Consul General, Jan 12, 1887 - May 26, 1890
1889: William O. Bradley, Minister Resident/Consul General, Mar 30, 1889 - Declined appointment.
1890: Augustine Heard, Minister Resident/Consul General, Jan 30, 1890 - Jun 27, 1893
1894: John M.B. Sill, Minister Resident/Consul General, Jan 12, 1894 - Sep 13, 1897
1897: Horace N. Allen, Minister Resident/Consul General, Jul 17, 1897 - Dec 10, 1901.
1905: Edwin V. Morgan, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, Mar 18, 1905 - Dec 8, 1905
1949: John J. Muccio, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Apr 7, 1949 - Sep 8, 1952
1952: Ellis O. Briggs, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Aug 25, 1952 - Apr 12, 1955
1955: William S.B. Lacy. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. Mar 24, 1955 - Oct 20, 1955
1956: Walter C. Dowling. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, May 29, 1956 - Oct 2, 1959
1959: Walter P. McConaughy, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Oct 5, 1959 - Apr 12, 1961
1961: Samuel D. Berger, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Jun 12, 1961 - Jul 10, 1964
1964: Winthrop G. Brown, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Jul 31, 1964 - Jun 10, 1967
1967: William J. Porter, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Jun 9, 1967 - Aug 18, 1971
1971: Philip C. Habib, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Sep 30, 1971 - Aug 19, 1974
1974: Richard L. Sneider, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Aug 23, 1974 - Jun 21, 1978
1978: William H. Gleysteen, Jr., Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Jun 27, 1978 - Jun 10, 1981
1981: Richard L. Walker, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Jul 18, 1981 - Oct 25 1986
1986: James Roderick Lilley, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Oct 16, 1986 - Jan 3, 1989
1989: Donald Phinney Gregg, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Sep 14, 1989 - Feb 27, 1993
1993: James T. Laney, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Oct 15, 1993 - Feb 5, 1996
1997: Steven W. Bosworth, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Oct 24, 1997 - Feb 10, 2001
2001: Thomas C. Hubbard, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Aug 3, 2001