That’s a quite peculiar read of the history. The real story of Korea is something more like:
-The United States propped up the corrupt and vicious right-wing ruler Syngman Rhee, who was responsible for thousands of extrajudicial killings of his political opponents. And also not a real fan of democracy
-His reign of murder and repression created a context in which, Kim Il Sung, by opposing him, could build on his reputation as an Anti-Japanese occupation guerilla to become a populist hero.
-Who, in the imperial conquest by proxy battle known as the Cold War, then became the Chinese and Soviet’s man in the Korean Peninsula.
So neither side really fighting for or against the spread of democracy. Just their own interests. And everything is still a mess as a result!
Comments
That’s a quite peculiar read of the history. The real story of Korea is something more like:
-The United States propped up the corrupt and vicious right-wing ruler Syngman Rhee, who was responsible for thousands of extrajudicial killings of his political opponents. And also not a real fan of democracy
-His reign of murder and repression created a context in which, Kim Il Sung, by opposing him, could build on his reputation as an Anti-Japanese occupation guerilla to become a populist hero.
-Who, in the imperial conquest by proxy battle known as the Cold War, then became the Chinese and Soviet’s man in the Korean Peninsula.
So neither side really fighting for or against the spread of democracy. Just their own interests. And everything is still a mess as a result!
"So neither side really fighting for or against the spread of democracy."
In fact, South Korea continued to be ruled by repressive dictatorships until 1987:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korea#1979