Inside Osan air base is a hill that is US territory. That hill cost thousands of American lives to take from the Chinese. South Korea ceded it to us in honor of our losses there. I have walked on that hill. It's quiet now and quite beautiful. I am heartbroken at the ingratitude of all the peoples that we died to free. But then again, their descendants aren't the ones we freed. Their parents were grateful. Their kids are not. Sad.

Excellent article. I too know many Koreans and I've also never been able to figure out their attitude towards America. A lot of young Koreans actually seem to admire some aspects of the North Korean dictatorship (in particular, their open hostility towards Japan). In addition, the U.S. gets virtually all of the blame for anything bad that has happened in South Korea during the 60 years---and none of the credit for anything good. Perhaps the worst part of all is that the South Korean government often plays up the blame game, so as to deflect criticism of its own incompetencies (something that happens far too much around the world and, at least since the Reagan administration, rarely, if ever, gets challenged by Washington).

I like the proposed solution and I think it should be applied in general around the world. If we only stationed troops in places where they were wanted, we'd be much better off.

I have met two Korean immigrants to the U.S. When I mentioned to them that my father fought in the Korean War both thanked me for my father's service to their country. Of course there was no reason to thank me, I didn't do anything, but thats what they did.

Dennis, I`m not sure about South Korea being the most ungrateful nation in the world.France also comes to mind.We saved that bunch of frogs hides twice, and they still do not exactly revere our sacrifice.

Richard Ryan

Lamar,Missouri - Birthplace of Harry S Truman

Mike Crognale: I agree. I was stationed at Osan AB and have also been on that hill. It's sad how so many have forgotten why the base is there and how it keeps them from marching in lockstep like their relatives in North Korea.

When I read things like this, I wish the movie industry would, for once, just show the movie at home. Lost revenue? Yeah, probably a bunch. Pride in country? Priceless........... Let them make their own "Captain Korea".... or whatever.

"And if a majority wants us to stay, the South Korean left and other ingrates in that country should shut up".

Surely Dennis you of all people know that a minority, however small, of lefty idealists will NEVER shut up.

In the family of nations the United States is a single parent - the only adult supervision in the house.

If nations like South Korea (and France) think they can handle their affairs better in the absence of "Pax Americana," I say we let them try.

I don't agree with Prager's "blanket" critique of South Korea anymore than I would characterize the rhetoric out of San Fransico as representative of the U.S. Forty Eight. I am a KW Combat Veteran and I am outwardly thanked for my war service by S.Korean natives of all ages. They have their left wing idealogues just like we do and they demonstrate and yell and saturate the industry that would do just that: Remove Captain America. Those who would prevent them have no idea who or what was the original "CA" and just give it a "no never mind" and walk on. 90% of the activists and "know nothings" are the under age 25 and the over 65 who think the USA owes them money for waging war in their country! We have people like that and they brought Obama vistory in '08.

I want to expand on my comment of 7/12 1448 hrs.

When I left the Chosen Penninsula in '53, it was a virtual wasteland. The countryside, especially north of the DMZ still had bodies and body parts that became and continue to be frozen in ditches and ravines. Included among them, are the bits and pieces of 8000+ UN (what a joke that symbol is!) soldiers and marines vaporized by the greatest and heaviest artillery barrages which totaled more than several of our wars combined! They are STLL classified as MIA. Add, say 7000 of that count (to appease the "count" agnostics)to the established KIA count and you have a very reasonable KIA Count of more than 41,000 in 37 months of warfare. That's more than 1100 a month! NAM would average about 460. Just providing a perspective. S.Korea is about the 8th largest economy in the world. They don't need us and we don't need them, with regard to our military bases. It was my opinion that among Carter's many mistakes, we should have kept the Canal and vacated S.Korea rather than the reverse. We do need one or two large bases in the western Pacific. What we own and what we "lease' from Japan we should keep and it's Japan we should tell to go stuff it! Back to S.Korea. In addition to our defense of and re-installation of that country, be advised that it was numerous, American corporations and their personnel, active and retired, who as advisors helped create that great and flourishing economy. So, "Grateful"? "Un-Grateful"? That's their choice, not ours. Don't forget, on "our side" most of those, home and abroad, who sacrificed time and/or money creating S.Korea as it became, are either dead or very close to it. Much more so WWII. So,my closing comment which is not suitable for public speech but can be found in its entirety as the "Intro" to the great novel: "From Here to Eternity" by that WWII vet and former fellow 25th Infantry Div. soldier, James Jones; who says: "F*** 'em all but six and save them for pall bearers!" That's my attitude for all nations and their "club" the UN. "We're here, like we always were. Ask. Then we'll look at the "trust bank" and think about it. Oh, how I wish our elected officials had the ..... (I'll settle for:) mustard!

Having spent a year working in S. Korea, there are 'leftist' there as well. I spent my year on Jeju Island and there is a town there protesting the construction of a US Navy base.

But Koreans know better than Americans the situation of the North and they also know that their country is really just a stale mate between China and the US.

But to say that the whole country is ungrateful because of the name change on a superhero movie is a bit far.

We are there to display our intent, which is to protect freedom wherever we need to. We are there also to display our capability and sincerity about that issue. But the message inherent in the display of force can also be sent with the display of non-force. All we need do is tell the Koreans we are satisfied with their ability to protect themselves, pick up our gear, and walk away. I would bet that within six months, no, make that three, there would be free Kias and Hyundais for all, factory pickup required. We could then gracefully decline, and a great lesson would be learned by all the other semi-allied nations.

We really do not need Korea. Letting Korea fall would make every other Pacific nation first, cling to us for their survival, and second, provide an object lesson on the wisdom of making us angry. Machiavelli (who got a bad rap--go look him up) said, "It is better to be feared than loved".

I have often thought that we should remove our troops and equipment from Europe and from South Korea. This article just brings it into focus AGAIN! Why do we not just pick up our s@#! and get? With our economy SO bad we could surely use the savings to help with our own debt. What about it congress, time to leave South Korea.

I'm not a politician and, although I have a Bronze Star from Korea in 1952 I'm no authority on the whole of Korea. But, I tell the usual naysayers to pull up the nighttime high altitude shot of the whole peninsula and you'll see all of South Korea brightly lit, and North Korea absolutely dark. I'll bet that means something that even dummies can understand.

if you give a gift to someone, how hard is it for you to expect nothing--not even gratitude--in return? when one does expect something back, i call that a "business transaction" and not a "gift"; same goes for "help". for people who complain about these protests and other similar trivial issues, i find them a bit arrogant and belittling.

it has been half a century or so since the korean "war". young people in america, china, and south korea barely have any emotional ties to this event. most of them view this as just another majour human historical event. gratitude requires a sense of attachment. the young have none. expecting gratitude might be too much. in addition, do you know what both young and old people overseas really see and feel everyday? americans abroad (e.g. soldiers, diplomats, and security contractors) constantly flex their so-called mighty economic and diplomatic muscles at the weaker and more fragile people of other countries. they feel entitled to take and to govern. they are generally viewed as rude, obnoxious, ignorant, and arrogant. just watch foreign films about american soldiers and talk to the old people on the streets of vietnam and japan. no wonder we hear all the resentment around the world.

in closing, i have no problems with your being proud of your american heritage, but i would like you to take a moment and step into the shoes of foreigners who are alive at this moment. try to understand that maybe americans did fight for their freedom but left a lot of emotional scars as well.

@paulrod - Michiavelli's quote was satirical, much like, "Let's use Irish children as food."

@JAG - If you're going to talk about the American occupation of Okinawa, make sure you talk to Okinawans. Most Okinawans view the US favorably, or at least the troops stationed there. They don't necessarily like "Mainlanders" and most "No gaijen" (No whites allowed) bars/clubs/restaurants are run by people from mainland Japan. As a side note the history of Okinawa and why they dislike and distance themselves from mainland Japanese is pretty interesting.

Being a Korean-American in the field of international relations and foreign policy while currently working & living in Seoul, it never ceases to surprise me and disturb me when I encounter anti-U.S. protests, opinions, or people here. Having stated that, I also run into Koreans who get just as disappointed and puzzled by such sentiment among their countrymen.

It appears, in my humble opinion, that the far leftists in Korea are more feverish, vocal, and even efficient when it comes to spreading their messages. And, as is true elsewhere, most common people here buy into the exaggerations, distortions, or selective use of information spread to them. Search for news articles and other reports concerning the ongoing U.S.-Korea (KORUS) FTA debate here; you'd be surprised at the level of ignorance (at all socio-economic levels) for a society with such high literacy rates, high academic performance, and high averages of university and advanced degree attainment.

Ignorance and zeal put together equals bad news whether it's ratifying FTAs, recruiting terrorists, or any other social issue. And there will always be those that will shun the truth and choose to be unethical or make decisions according to their predetermined ideas.