MANILA -- I can think of several common points between Germany and Korea, and even more between South Korea and West Germany. But a closer than superficial look will reveal more differences than similarities -- also pertaining to the respective relations with and attitudes toward the United States.
Let me begin with the common points: First and foremost one should mention national division, which in the case of both countries came about as the result of international wars and had been preserved for decades due to the global confrontation between East and West. In this confrontation, Korea like Germany became a military front, with the U.S. assuming the role of the guarantor power over West Germany and South Korea, respectively.
The U.S. invested heavily in both countries assisting in economic development and deploying tens of thousands of U.S. forces, with the explicit objective of defending its allies against military aggression and "communization."