The Impact of the 1988 Olympics on Soviet-South Korea and Us-South Korea Relations

I.

Tentative Title:

Misha and Hodori Hold Hands:

The Impact of the 1988 Olympics on Soviet-South Korea and US-South Korea Relations

II.

Introduction

        With the conclusion of World War II, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America stood as the world-powers, and, simplistically, represented two different systems at odds with each other: communism and capitalism, respectively. This Cold War between the two countries appeared in different venues and arenas, such as the Berlin Blockade, the Chinese Civil War, the Space Race, the Korean War, and the Olympics. Research concerning the Cold War, understandably, focuses primarily on the manifestation of their tension. Particularly in the American academia, the Cold War is often represented as a fight between good (the US) and evil (the USSR), in which the USA and capitalism ultimately wins out as the USSR fails and Soviet states adopting more capitalist systems^[1].

        This interpretation of the Cold War, taught in the elementary and middle schools I attended, alienates other international perspective. Obviously, the USSR’s view of the Cold War and the United States’ supposed victory would involve complex ideas concerning public opinion of the Soviet period and the view of the US as an imperialist aggressor^[2]. A perspective less often analyzed is that of a third party.

III.

Research Problem

        In this research paper, I will analyze the Soviet-Republic of Korea relations during the Cold War, particularly concerning the development of economic connections following the 1988 Seoul Olympics. The 1988 Olympics, and events prior, in Korea brought some tension between the US and Korea, despite their agreeing capitalist, democratic systems, while the Soviet Union and Korea mutually desired an increase in diplomacy despite past disagreements. I will analyze books and articles by Koreans concerning the increasing diplomacy between the two nations in the 1980s and 1990s, and sources on increasing anti-Americanism in South Korea. For the purposes of creating a larger picture, sources will also touch on conflicts between Soviet Union and South Korea before the 1990s, and the development of Russian Federation-South Korea relations after the fall of the Soviet Union.

        The chief questions I will investigate are: How did the Soviet Union employ sports diplomacy in the 1988 Seoul Olympics? How did the US fail in sports diplomacy in the same event? Why were the USSR and Republic of Korea eager for diplomatic relations despite multiple reasons to remain hostile? How does the Russian and Korean perspective of the Cold War differ from American school curriculum on the topic?

        While the Korean War is often brought up as an example of American heroism and Soviet villainy, the fact of the matter is Korea, as it continued its process of democratization, increasingly sought to leave the American nest, so to speak. Shaking hands with the Soviet Union, the creator of South Korea’s neighboring enemy North Korea, clearly demonstrates the nation’s movement away from America’s influence. Likewise, the Soviet Union, under Gorbachev, seeking relations, demonstrated a push for reforms in the Soviet system.