Base Encounters: The Us Armed Forces In South Korea (anthropology, Culture & Society)

Violent imaginaries and base encounters in Seoul -- Capitalism of the barracks: Korea's long march to the 21st century -- The colonized bodies of our women: Camptown spaces as vital zones of the national imagination -- Vil(l)e encounters: Transnational militarized entertainment areas on the fringes of Korea -- It'aewŏn's suspense: Of American dreams, violent nightmares, and guilty pleasures in the city -- Demilitarizing the urban entertainment zone? Hongdae and the US armed forces in the Seoul capital area.;Base Encounters explores the social friction that US bases have caused in South Korea, where entertainment districts next to American military installations have come under much scrutiny. The Korean peninsula is one of the most heavily militarized regions in the world with nearly 30,000 US soldiers in the area. Elisabeth Schober shares the lives of soldiers, sex workers and anti-base activists, to give a comprehensive introduction to the social, economic and political factors that have shaped the tensions over US bases in South Korea. --Cover. Base Encounters explores the social friction that US bases have caused in South Korea, where the entertainment districts next to American military installations have come under much scrutiny.

The Korean peninsula is one of the most heavily militarised regions in the world and the conflict between the North and South is continually exacerbated by the presence of nearly 30,000 US soldiers in the area. Crimes committed in GI entertainment areas have been amplified by an outraged public as both a symbol for, and a symptom of, the uneven relationship between the United States and the small East Asian nation.

Elisabeth Schober's ethnographic history scrutinises these controversial zones in and near Seoul. Sharing the lives of soldiers, female entertainers and anti-base activists, she gives a comprehensive introduction to the social, economic and political factors that have contributed to the tensions over US bases in South Korea.
Cover 1 Contents 8 List of Figures 10 Series Preface 11 Notes on the Text 12 Notes on Transliteration 13 Acknowledgments 14 1. Introduction: Violent Imaginaries and Base Encounters in Seoul 18 2. Capitalism of the Barracks: Korea's Long March to the 21st Century 45 3. "The Colonized Bodies of Our Women...": Camptown Spaces as Vital Zones of the National Imagination 79 4. Vi(l)e Encounters: Transnational Militarized Entertainment Areas on the Fringes of Korea 102 5. It’aewon’s Suspense: Of American Dreams, Violent Nightmares and Guilty Pleasures in the City 126 6. Demilitarizing the Urban Entertainment Zone? - Hongdae and the US Armed Forces in the Seoul Capital Area 150 7. Conclusion: Seeds of Antagonism, Children of Discord 178 Notes 189 References 205 Index 224 Base Encounters explores the social friction that US bases have caused in South Korea, where nearly 30,000 US soldiers remain stationed. Crimes committed in GI entertainment areas have been amplified by an outraged public as both a symbol forand a symptom ofthe uneven relationship between the United States and the small East Asian nation. Elisabeth Schobers excellent ethnographic history scrutinises these controversial zones of encounter in and near Seoul. Sharing the lives of soldiers, female entertainers, and anti-base activists, she gives a comprehensive introduction to the social, economic, and political factors that have contributed to the tensions over US bases in South Korea. Ethnographic introduction to the social, economic and political factors that have contributed to tensions on the ground over US bases in South Korea