Republic of Korea

Formation

Following the Axis victory in Europe and the collapse of Japan in the Pacific, the Republic of Korea was proclaimed in the southern half of the peninsula under the direct sponsorship of the United States. With the Japanese colonial administration dismantled, Washington moved quickly to secure a foothold in Northeast Asia, establishing Seoul as the capital of a new pro-American republic in late 1945.

The Republic of Korea is formally an independent state, but in practice functions as a protectorate and client regime of the United States. Its economy is reconstructed with American aid, and its armed forces are trained and equipped by U.S. advisers. The Korean government maintains a strong anti-communist stance and is integrated into the American Continental Block’s Pacific Concord Pact, aligning itself with the Republic of China, the Philippines, and Japan.

Political System

• The state is governed by a presidential system, though heavily monitored by U.S. military and intelligence officials.
• Political opposition is restricted, especially any groups associated with socialism or communism.
• American influence is pervasive in education, infrastructure, and military organization.

Communist Guerrillas in the North

Despite the official proclamation of stability, the northern mountains of Korea remain home to guerrilla movements inspired by communism and backed by the Communist Republic of China and remnants of the Soviet underground.

These groups, often composed of former resistance fighters against Japan, denounce the Republic of Korea as a “puppet state of imperialists.” They conduct raids, sabotage, and assassinations in the border regions, making the north unstable and preventing full U.S. control of the peninsula.

The American-backed government responds with harsh counterinsurgency campaigns, but the rugged terrain and popular support for resistance make eradication difficult.

Geopolitical Role

The Republic of Korea is a frontline state in the Cold War between the United States and Germany, serving as a strategic bulwark in East Asia against communist expansion from China and Siberia, while also reassuring Japan of American military commitment.

For Washington, Korea is not just a protectorate but a symbolic showcase: proof that American-backed states could rise from the ashes of colonialism and stand as beacons of democracy— though in reality, its democracy is fragile, tightly controlled, and under constant threat from within.