THE UNITED STATES AND KOREA:

Until the mid-1970’s，it appeared that the United States would station its ground troops in South Korea at least for the foreseeable future. In the course of the presidential campaign in 1976, however, Candidate Carter pledged himself to withdraw U.S. ground forces from Korea. One can be certain that he made this promise convinced that the pullout of.U.S. troops was militarily sound and politically feasible. It was no surprise therefore, that he should feel compelled to make good on his pledge to the American electorate. Within two weeks of taking office, Vice President Mondale announced in Tokyo that the pullout would be effected; and at his press conference on March 9 ，1977，President Carter confirmed that he remained committed to his pledge to withdraw U.S. ground forces from Korea. This paper will, first, discuss the nature and background of America’s involvement in Korea; second, examine the factors which led President Carter to make his troop withdrawal decision; third, analyze the values of U.S. ground forces in Korea; and, finally, point out the extent to which the troop pullout policy was implemented under the Carter administration, and describe the position taken by the Reagan administration on the issue.