commitment to anti-communism, a strong military and the retention of the 40,000 US troops based in the country. The US has mediated in the present dispute between the opposition and the government. But democracy is far less important to the US than the role that South Korea plays in its regional policy. There are allegations that the US wishes to maintain the military-run government in power. What the US can however do is to exercise restraint on the South Korean military. There is definitely an undercurrent of anti-Americanism among the student protestors.