Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2plfb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T04:59:17.705Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Resurrecting Prostitutes and Overturning Treaties: Gender Politics in the “Anti-American” Movement in South Korea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2007

Katharine H. S. Moon
Get access

Abstract

Although recent expressions of “anti-Americanism” in South Korea have alarmed policy makers in Seoul and Washington and aroused fears about declining popular support for the bilateral alliance, they are understandable manifestations of civil society activism, which has grown since democratization began during the late 1980s. This paper analyzes anti-Americanism as a dynamic coalition movement accompanied by the all of internal competition, conflicts, and contradictions that characterize such movements. In the process, some actors and issues have become high priorities, whereas others have been marginalized or silenced. Professor Moon examines kijich'on (camptown) prostitution around U.S. military bases in Korea as a case study of how power conflicts within the coalition movement, which are focused on nationalism and gender, have exploited and shut out the very people who served as its initiators and early leaders.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Asian Studies , Volume 66 , Issue 1 , February 2007 , pp. 129 - 157
Copyright
Copyright © The Association for Asian Studies, Inc. 2007

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

List of References

Alexander, M. Jacqui, and Chandra Talpade, Mohanty. 1997. Introduction to Feminist Genealogies, Colonial Legacies, Democratic Futures. New York: Routledge.Google Scholar
Amnesty International. 1991. South Korea: Prisoners Held for National Security Reasons. New York: Amnesty International.Google Scholar
Baek, Jae Hee. 2002. “I'm Entertainer, I'm Not Sex Worker.” In Yonggamhan Yŏsongdŭl [Women of Courage], ed. House, Magdalena191–228. Seoul: Sam-in.Google Scholar
Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). 2001. The U.S.–ROK Status of Forces Agreement Revision Process: Path to an Agreement. Washington, D.C.: CSIS.Google Scholar
Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). 2003. “Anti-Americanism in Korea: Closing Perception Gaps.” Issues & Insights 3 (5). http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/issuesinsights_v03n05.pdf [accessed November 7, 2006].Google Scholar
Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). 2004. Strategy and Sentiment: South Korean Views of the United States and the ROK–US Alliance. Washington, D.C.: CSIS.Google Scholar
Cheng, Sea-Ling. 2002. “Transnational Desires: ‘Trafficked’ Filipinas in US Military Camp Towns in South Korea.” PhD diss., Oxford University.Google Scholar
Chin, Mikyung. 2000. “Self-Governance, Political Participation, and the Feminist Movement in South Korea.” In Democracy and the Status of Women in East Asia. ed. Lee, Rose J. and Clark, Cal91–104. Boulder, Colo.: Lynne Rienner.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Choi, Chungmoo. 1998. “Nationalism and the Construction of Gender in Korea.” In Dangerous Women: Gender and Korean Nationalism. ed. Kim, Elaine H. and Choi, Chungmoo9–32. New York: Routledge.Google Scholar
Chŏn, Usŏp. 2001. “Saraitnŭn ddang, huimang ui ddang” [Land That Lives, Land of Hope]. In From Nogŭnri to Maehyangri [History of the Korean People's Movement for Solution of U.S. Forces Korea Issues], 98–106. Seoul: Deep Freedom.Google Scholar
Chŏng, Yujin. 2000a. “‘Minjok’ ui irŭm ŭro sunkyŏlhaejin ddaldŭl” [Daughters Who Have Become Pure in the Name of the “Nation”]. Tangdae Pip'yŏng 11: 219–45.Google Scholar
Chŏng, Yujin. 2000b. “P'yŏnghwarŭl mandŭn danŭn kŏt” [To Make Peace]. In Ilsang ui ŏgapkwa sosuja ui inkwŏn [Daily Oppression and the Human Rights of Minorities], 89–114. Seoul: Saram Saenggag.Google Scholar
Chung, Hyun-Back. 1997. “Together and Separately: ‘The New Women's Movement’ after the 1980s in South Korea.” Asian Women 5: 19–38.Google Scholar
Diamond, Larry. 1994. “Rethinking Civil Society: Toward Democratic Consolidation.” Journal of Democracy 5 (3): 4–17.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Diamond, Larry. 1999. Developing Democracy: Toward Consolidation. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eberstadt, Nicholas. 2002. “Our Other Korea Problem.” The National Interest, Fall, 113.Google Scholar
Grinker, Roy Richard. 1998. Korea and Its Futures: Unification and the Unfinished War. New York: St. Martin's Press.Google Scholar
Heng, Geraldine. 1997. “‘A Great Way to Fly’: Nationalism, the State, and the Varieties of Third-World Feminism.” In Feminist Genealogies, Colonial Legacies, Democratic Futures. ed. Alexander, M. Jacqui and Mohanty, Chandra Talpade30–45. New York: Routledge.Google Scholar
Jaquette, Jane. 2001. “Women and Democracy: Regional Differences and Contrasting Views.” Journal of Democracy 12 (3): 111–25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jung, Shin-Mook, Kim, Ae-Rahn and Kim, Hyun-Sun. 2001. “The Sisters' Position on the Special Law against Sex Trafficking.” In Sex Trafficking Eradication Project: Networking against the Asian Sex Industry and Promoting Anti Sex Trafficking Legislation, 82–86. Seoul: Saewoomtuh for Prostituted Women and Their Children/Human Rights Solidarity for Women and Migration in Korea.Google Scholar
Kempadoo, Kamala, and Doezema, Jo eds. 1998. Global Sex Workers: Rights, Resistance, and Redefinition. New York: Routledge.Google Scholar
Hyuk-Rae, Kim. 2000. “The State and Civil Society in Transition: The Role of Non-Governmental Organizations in South Korea.” Pacific Review 13 (4): 595–613.Google Scholar
Kim, Hyunsun. 2001. “Juhan migun kwa yŏsŏng in'kwŏn” [The U.S. Military in Korea and Women's Human Rights]. Paper presented at the Jeju Academic Conference on Human Rights, Seoul.Google Scholar
Kim, Myung-Hee. 2001. “Saewoomtuh for Prostituted Women and Their Children.” In Sex Trafficking Eradication Project: Networking against the Asian Sex Industry and Promoting Anti Sex Trafficking Legislation (Conference Report), 26–27. Seoul: Saewoomtuh for Prostituted Women and Their Children/Human Rights Solidarity for Women and Migration in Korea.Google Scholar
Kim, Sunhyuk. 1997. “State and Civil Society in South Korea's Democratic Consolidation: Is the Battle Really Over?” Asian Survey 37 (12): 1142.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kwon, Insook. 2000. “Militarism in My Heart: Women's Militarized Consciousness and Culture in South Korea.” PhD diss., Clark University.Google Scholar
Lee, Jong Soo. 1996. “The Politics of Decentralization in Korea.” Local Government Studies 22 (3): 68.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lee, Jung-Hoon. 1999. “Globalization, Nationalism, and Security Options for South Korea.” In Democratic Consolidation and Globalization in Korea: Assessments and Prospect, ed. Moon, Chung-in and Mo, Jongryn227–43. Seoul: Yonsei University Press.Google Scholar
Lee, Rose J. 2000. “Democratic Consolidation and Gender Politics in South Korea.” In Democracy and the Status of Women in East Asia, ed. Lee, Rose J. and Clark, Cal123–41. Boulder, Colo.: Lynne Rienner.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lee Kim, Hyunsook. 2001. “So'pa kaejŏng, muŏtsi munje inga? Yŏsŏng e kwanjŏm esŏ” [SOFA Revision, What Are the Problems? Women's Perspectives]. Statement delivered February 8, 2001, Seoul.Google Scholar
Lee, Namhee. 2002. “The South Korean Student Movement: Undongkwŏn as a Counterpublic Sphere.” In Korean Society: Civil Society, Democracy, and the State, ed. Armstrong, Charles K.132–64. New York: Routledge.Google Scholar
Ling, Lily. 2000. “The Limits of Democratization for Women in East Asia.” In Democracy and the Status of Women in East Asia ed. Lee, Rose J. and Clark, Cal169–182. Boulder, Colo.: Lynne Rienner.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Linz, Juan J., and Stepan, Alfred. 1996. “Toward Consolidated Democracies.” Journal of Democracy 7 (2): 14–33.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McReynolds, John A. 1968. “Community Relations Advisory Council (CRAC), Bupyong (ASCOM).” U.S. Forces Korea, memorandum, November 1.Google Scholar
Mo, Jongryn. 1999. “Political Learning, Democratic Consolidation, and Politics of Labor Reform in South Korea.” In Democratic Consolidation and Globalization in Korea: Assessments and Prospect, ed. Moon, Chung-in and Mo, Jongryn303–36. Seoul: Yonsei University Press.Google Scholar
Moon, Katharine H. S. 1997. Sex among Allies: Military Prostitution in U.S.–Korea Relations. New York: Columbia University Press.Google Scholar
Moon, Katharine H. S. 1999. “South Korean Movements against Militarized Sexual Labor.” Asian Survey 39 (2): 310–77.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moon, Katharine H. S. 2003. “Korean Nationalism, Anti-Americanism, and Democratic Consolidation.” In Korea's Democratization, ed. Kim, Samuel S.135–58. New York: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moon, Seungsook. 2000. “Overcome by Globalization: The Rise of a Women's Policy in South Korea.” In Korea's Globalization, ed. Kim, Samuel S.126–46. New York: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Moon, Seungsook. 2002. “Carving Out Space: Civil Society and the Women's Movement in South Korea.” Journal of Asian Studies 61 (2): 473–500.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Norris, Pippa, and Inglehart, Ron. 2001. “Women and Democracy: Cultural Obstacles to Equal Representation.” Journal of Democracy 12 (3): 126–40.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
People's Action for Reform of the Unjust SOFA (PAR-SOFA). 2000. SOFA Inducement. Seoul: PAR-SOFA.Google Scholar
Rainbow Center. 1994. Rainbow News Letter No. 3. Flushing, N.Y.: Rainbow Center.Google Scholar
Republic of Korea, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, North America Division. 2002. “Sŏlmyŏng charyo-yŏnhap t'oji kwalli kyehoek (LPP) hyŏpjŏng palhyo” [Explanation of the Land Partnership Program Agreement]. October 31.Google Scholar
Rose, Fred. 2000. Coalitions across the Class Divide: Lessons from the Labor, Peace, and Environmental Movements. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press.Google Scholar
Saewoomtuh Counseling Center. 2000. “SOFA kaejŏng e taehan uri ui ipjang” [Our Position on the SOFA Revision]. July 27.Google Scholar
Saewoomtuh Counseling Center. 2001a. Kyŏnggido chiyŏk sŏng maemae siltae chosa mit chŏngch'aek dae'an yŏn'gu [Research and Policy Proposals regarding the Sex Trade in Kyonggi Province]. Seoul: Saewoomtuh.Google Scholar
Saewoomtuh Counseling Center. 2001b. Sex Trafficking Eradication Project: Networking against the Sex Industry and Promoting Anti Sex Trafficking Legislation. Conference Report, Saewoomtuh Counseling Center and Human Rights Solidarity for Women and Migration in Korea, October 9–11, Republic of Korea.Google Scholar
Seong, Kyoung-Ryung. 2000. “Civil Society and Democratic Consolidation in South Korea: Great Achievements and Remaining Problems.” In Consolidating Democracy in South Korea, ed. Diamond, Larry and Kim, Byung-Kook87–109. Boulder, Colo.: Lynne Rienner.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tarrow, Sydney. 1998. Power in Movement: Social Movements and Contentious Politics. 2nd ed.New York: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tripp, Aili Mari. 2001. “Women and Democracy: The New Political Activism in Africa.” Journal of Democracy 12 (3): 141–55.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
U.S. Department of the Air Force, District 45. 1977. Report of Investigation, File No. 7745D6-206, August 5.Google Scholar
Waylen, Georgina. 1994. “Women and Democratization: Conceptualizing Gender Relations in Transition Politics.” World Politics 46: 327–54.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wells, Kenneth M. 2000. “The Price of Legitimacy: Women and the Kŭnuhoe Movement, 1927–1931.” In Colonial Modernity in Korea, ed. Shin, Gi-Wook and Robinson, Michael191–220. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press.Google Scholar
Yi, Kwanggil. 2000. “Gijich'on munje SOFA e ppajyŏsŏnŭn andwenda [Camptown Issues Should Not Be Omitted from the SOFA]. OhmyNews.com, July 26.Google Scholar
Yi, Kyochŏng. 2002. “Chuhan migun ui Yun Kŭmi-ssi salhae sa'gŏn kwa Tongduch'ŏn simindŭl ui tujaeng” [The Case of the USFK Murder of Yun Kumi and Tongduch'on Citizens' Struggle]. September 17.Google Scholar