‘Self-Defense’ as a nation's defense policy needs not just ‘words’ but capability. For the Republic of Korea (ROK), its national defense policy stemmed from the Korean War and depended hugely on the United States (US). During the war and even after that, the ROK Government was able to maintain its armed forces mainly with the US support and it is still true today in some points. The US 2nd Infantry Division in Korea is a vivid example of the ROK-US relations. However, details of the ROK's defense policy from 1970 to 1997 show some variant from this main frame. Shocked by the Nixon Doctrine of 1969, President Park initiated ‘Self-Defense Policy’ and tried to reduce the ROK's dependence for national defense on the US. This policy continues thereafter as the ROK's fundamental defense policy. At the same time, the ROK tries to keep the US Forces in Korea with various effort and American soldier became a token of the US involvement to the ROK. This paper focuses mainly on the ROK defense policy from 1970 to 1997 with two themes mentioned above. For detailed discuss, it covers the period with three time spans; first from 1970 to 1981, second from 1981 to 1989, and finally from 1989 to 1997. Every chapter deals with domestic and foreign security circumstance, the ROK-US relations, and changes and development in the ROK defense policy in detail. In 1970, President Park's initiation of self defense policy came after Nixon doctrine that emphasized Asian nations' own responsibility for its national security and reduced American role for those nations. Thereafter, the ROK Government set several programs to implement the policy such as the Yulgok Project (Military Capability Improvement Program). At the same time, the ROK Government desperately tried to maintain the US Forces in Korea. Opposite to the US intention of reducing its involvement, the ROK-US military relations were strengthened during this period. The 1980s saw a self defense policy continued, but its characteristics are much different from the earlier period. While the 1970s were a beginning of the self defense policy, the 1980s increased the ROK's military capability. It was because of economic prosperity and scientific and technological capability of Korea. The second Yulgok Project now focuses on the modernization of the ROK Armed Forces and able to distribute K-1 tanks to the ROK divisions for operational purpose. During the 1990s, modernization program continues to improve self defense capability. Furthermore, the ROK's role for its national security was enlarged to a great degree. Presumably named as ‘Koreanization’ of national defense, it began to perform as main actor for the ROK national security and to enlarge its role in global peace-keeping operations. From 1970 to 1997, the ROK sought to arm its military with self-defense capability and its defense policy changed from modernization to Koreanization. Koreanization, truly ‘Self-Defense,’ is still a long way to go but should be completed in near future. In these efforts, domestic and foreign circumstance, especially the US policy toward Korea, influenced much in forming the ROK's defense policy. Even Koreanization does not mean to refusal of the ROK-US alliance that continues from the Korean War.

‘Self-Defense’ as a nation's defense policy needs not just ‘words’ but capability. For the Republic of Korea (ROK), its national defense policy stemmed from the Korean War and depended hugely on the United States (US). During the war and even after that, the ROK Government was able to maintain its armed forces mainly with the US support and it is still true today in some points. The US 2nd Infantry Division in Korea is a vivid example of the ROK-US relations. However, details of the ROK's defense policy from 1970 to 1997 show some variant from this main frame. Shocked by the Nixon Doctrine of 1969, President Park initiated ‘Self-Defense Policy’ and tried to reduce the ROK's dependence for national defense on the US. This policy continues thereafter as the ROK's fundamental defense policy. At the same time, the ROK tries to keep the US Forces in Korea with various effort and American soldier became a token of the US involvement to the ROK. This paper focuses mainly on the ROK defense policy from 1970 to 1997 with two themes mentioned above. For detailed discuss, it covers the period with three time spans; first from 1970 to 1981, second from 1981 to 1989, and finally from 1989 to 1997. Every chapter deals with domestic and foreign security circumstance, the ROK-US relations, and changes and development in the ROK defense policy in detail. In 1970, President Park's initiation of self defense policy came after Nixon doctrine that emphasized Asian nations' own responsibility for its national security and reduced American role for those nations. Thereafter, the ROK Government set several programs to implement the policy such as the Yulgok Project (Military Capability Improvement Program). At the same time, the ROK Government desperately tried to maintain the US Forces in Korea. Opposite to the US intention of reducing its involvement, the ROK-US military relations were strengthened during this period. The 1980s saw a self defense policy continued, but its characteristics are much different from the earlier period. While the 1970s were a beginning of the self defense policy, the 1980s increased the ROK's military capability. It was because of economic prosperity and scientific and technological capability of Korea. The second Yulgok Project now focuses on the modernization of the ROK Armed Forces and able to distribute K-1 tanks to the ROK divisions for operational purpose. During the 1990s, modernization program continues to improve self defense capability. Furthermore, the ROK's role for its national security was enlarged to a great degree. Presumably named as ‘Koreanization’ of national defense, it began to perform as main actor for the ROK national security and to enlarge its role in global peace-keeping operations. From 1970 to 1997, the ROK sought to arm its military with self-defense capability and its defense policy changed from modernization to Koreanization. Koreanization, truly ‘Self-Defense,’ is still a long way to go but should be completed in near future. In these efforts, domestic and foreign circumstance, especially the US policy toward Korea, influenced much in forming the ROK's defense policy. Even Koreanization does not mean to refusal of the ROK-US alliance that continues from the Korean War.

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Self-Defense, Nixon Doctrine, Detente, National Defense Objective, Yulgok Project, The ROK-US Combined Forces Command, Military Capability Improvement Program, Modernization of the ROK Armed Forces, Koreanization of National Defense, Operational Control