These days, the world is concerned about the dubious future of South Korea. People anxiously look on at the unprecedented sociopolitical upheaval since the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Depending on the decision of the Constitutional Court, Yoon may return to office or fade away. Either way, conflict seems inevitable in Korea because the country is sharply divided by two mutually antagonizing groups that either support or denounce Yoon, or subscribe to the right-wing doctrine or the left-wing ideology.

South Korea is also facing the upcoming tsunami of the Donald Trump administration’s heavy tariff policy, which will deal a hard blow to the South Korean economy that largely depends upon international trade. In addition, the current US government is also likely to demand South Korea take on more of the costs of stationing US troops in the country.

In his recent speech, US President Trump stated that other countries charge America much higher tariffs than America charges them. He brought up South Korea as an example, saying, “Korea’s average tariff is four times higher ... and we give them so much military support and other assistance.” From Trump’s remarks, we can anticipate an unmatched crisis in our economy that has so far been prosperous.

Instead of preparing for the imminent perfect storm, our sailors of the ship South Korea are indulging in domestic power struggles after they locked up their captain for impeachment. Naturally, experts wonder if South Korea can deal with the upcoming strong winds and surging waves, not to mention numerous hidden reefs.

Nowadays, people say that the America we used to know no longer exists and thus we must deal with an entirely new America. We also should know that in a sense, we are paying for our past wrongdoings regarding the US, such as harboring anti-American sentiments based on wrong assumptions or political calculations.

For example, some radical activists chanted anti-American slogans, accusing the US of betraying the Korean people by supporting two Korean military coups. But that is not true. As for the military coup of Gen. Park Chung-hee, the US government neither accepted nor approved it. Instead, it cut off financial aid to South Korea to express its discontent and protest.

It was a heavy blow to the military regime in Korea. Perhaps that was one of the reasons Park pursued economic development plans so eagerly and aggressively: South Korea had to be financially independent and survive without foreign aid.

The US government did not support or endorse the military coup of Gen. Chun Doo-hwan, either. William H. Gleysteen, US ambassador to South Korea between 1978 and 1981, informed me that he told South Korean generals that the US was ready to help quell Chun’s coup if the Korean generals wanted it. To his disappointment, however, all of them opposed his proposition, saying: “We cannot fight against our own soldiers.” If so, it was our generals, not America, who betrayed us at that time.

More recently, left-wing activists also inflamed anti-American sentiment for political gain by maliciously conjuring up fake news and conspiracy theories. For example, in 2008 they falsely claimed that imported American beef spread mad cow disease to Korea, which was far from the truth. At that time, some Koreans believed the deceiving propaganda and joined huge anti-American rallies.

They also deceived the people by wrongfully asserting that the THAAD antimissile battery from the US, which went operational in South Korea in 2017, would emit electromagnetic waves that could harm our agricultural products and even threaten our lives. Although a few demagogues were responsible for such unground anti-American campaigns, the whole country must now pay for it. Meanwhile, we can hardly expect any favors from the US, because we have lost the trust that is crucial between allies.

Presently, South Korea is facing both domestic and international crises, including political disturbances, economic issues and even a national security crisis.

The worst-case scenario would be Trump making a direct deal with North Korea. What if North Korea agrees on a nuclear freeze on the condition the US government pulls the US Army out from South Korea? Trump may accept it, thinking of it as a major achievement for his legacy. But South Korea’s national security would be on the brink without US troops in its territory. Some experts foresee that South Korea's situation would resemble that of Ukraine if the US troops depart.

Of course, we can benefit from the Trump administration’s percussive policies against authoritarian socialist countries in Asia. Although those policies are primarily for the benefit of the US, they will protect South Korea’s national security, which has been threatened by socialist countries.

If our politicians keep ignoring the grave situation we face and continue to provoke political strife, our future will be grim. We should remember that in the late 19th century we lost the grasp on sovereignty under similar circumstances.

Now is the time to put an end to political skirmishes and prepare for the worst-case scenarios.

Kim Seong-kon

Kim Seong-kon is a professor emeritus of English at Seoul National University and a visiting scholar at Dartmouth College. The views expressed here are the writer’s own. -- Ed.