Page 15 - 한미기업인친선포럼 25.6월호

In parallel, South Korea must grapple with the implications of U.S.
transactionalism. The contentious negotiations over the Special Measures

Agreement during the Trump years exposed the vulnerabilities of alliance
structures overly dependent on U.S. political will. Sustaining U.S. presence now
demands not only financial contributions but also strategic alignment. South Korea

should frame USFK not merely as a shield for Korean territory, but as an
integrated platform that advances shared interests—freedom of navigation,

rules-based order, and deterrence against coercive behavior by revisionist powers.
This reframing positions Seoul as a co-equal security partner rather than a
passive beneficiary.

Modernizing USFK’s posture is also crucial. The current basing structure,
centered around large fixed installations like Camp Humphreys, reflects Cold

War-era assumptions. However, future security crises are likely to require more
agile and dispersed forces capable of rapid deployment across multiple theaters.
A flexible posture—supported by rotational deployments, prepositioned assets, and

mobile command infrastructure—will better align with evolving operational demands.
Such a shift is consistent with U.S. Department of Defense trends under Trump,

which favored a global force design that minimizes political friction and enhances
mobility.