The Role of

Ideology and
the Eruption of
Proxy War in
the Korean
Peninsula
RESEARCH OBJECTIVE

1. To comprehend the Role of Ideology

2. To understand about Eruption of Proxy War In

The Korean Peninsular

3. To determine when the cause Proxy War began

4. Understanding the consequences of the Proxy

War

5. To learn about the Union of Soviet Socialist

Republics' (USSR) and the United States'
involvement.
TABLE OF CONTENT
• Theory
• Capitalism (South Korea)
• Communism (North Korea)
• How The Proxy War Started
• The Causes Of Proxy War
• The Involvement Of Great Power United Stated An
d Soviet
• Implication Of Proxy War
• Conclusion
THEORY
1. Communism
a type of government as well as an economic
system (a way of creating and sharing wealth). In a
Communist system, individual people do not own
land, factories, or machinery. Instead, the
government or the whole community owns these
things. Everyone is supposed to share the wealth
that they create.
2.Marxism
Developed by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in the
19th century, Marxism is a socio-economic and
political theory that analyzes class struggle and
advocates for the establishment of a classless,
stateless society.
3. Capatalism
an economic system in which private actors own and control
property in accord with their interests, and demand and supply
freely set prices in markets in a way that can serve the best
interests of society. The essential feature of capitalism is the
motive to make a profit.
Capitalism (South Korea)
“an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are
controlled by private owners for profit”

1.Post-War Recovery: After the Korean War (1950-1953), South Korea was left
devastated. To rebuild, the government focused on industrialization as a
means of recovery. Policies were enacted to encourage industrial growth.
2.Export-Oriented Industrialization (EOI): South Korea adopted a strategy
of EOI, emphasizing export-driven growth. The government actively supported
and promoted certain industries, providing subsidies, infrastructure, and
incentives for companies to export goods.
3.Government Intervention: The South Korean government played a
significant role in guiding economic development. Through various economic
plans and initiatives, they directed resources toward key industries such as
steel, shipbuilding, electronics, and automotive manufacturing.
4.Education and Workforce Development: South Korea heavily invested in
education, producing a highly skilled and educated workforce. This emphasis
on education contributed to technological advancements and innovation.
COMMUNISM (North Korea)
“a theory or system of social organization in which all property is owned by the community and each

person contributes and receives according to their ability and needs”

1. Kim Il Sung was a guerrilla fighter and Communist President. The close relationship between Kim Il Sung and the Soviets made him

recognized as a communist country. The Soviet interest in North Korea to free Korea from foreign influence such as America caused

them to cooperate. The goal is to unite the country and communistize the entire nation.

2. Finally, Kim Il Sung was influenced by the support and help of the Soviets, until Kim Il Sung launched the armed forces across the line

of 38 degrees of latitude to the South and at the same time triggered the Korean War (June 25, 1950-July 27, 1953) which made the

people of South Korea hate Kim Il Sung and the people North Korea flattered him.

3. After the war, Kim Il Sung developed the economy and applied Jucheism as a political ideology which is a fusion of the ideas of Marxism

and Communism and then applied it in the economic system and society.

4. Military policy was introduced, militarizing the people. Children were forced to join the scout group, young men were conscripted to

work in the Socialist Labor League, women were also ordered to join the Korean Women's Democratic Union. For one definite purpose,

to make it easier for him to control them and ensure their loyalty to the ideology of communism.

5. This ideology is applied in education since the beginning of kindergarten. They were taught to glorify Kim Il Sung. If not, they will be

punished such as being left to starve, separated from their families, indoctrinated with the revolutionary ideas of Kim Il Sung. And

anyone who resists will be imprisoned and held in concentration camps. For those who run away will be shot immediately and

sometimes used as targets for shooting practice. All these punishments make the people afraid and help the ideology of communism to

grow faster.
HOW PROXY WAR STARTED

KOREA BACKGROUND
At first, Korea was divided into tribes but eventually organized
kingdoms emerged. There were 3 of them, Goguryeo in the
north and Silla and Baekje in the south.

THE DIVISION OF KOREA AFTER WW 2

The historic decision to divide the peninsula has aroused
speculation on several counts. Some historians attribute the
division of Korea to military expediency in receiving the
Japanese surrender, while others believe that the decision was
a measure to prevent the Soviet forces from occupying the
whole of Korea. Since U.S. policy toward Korea during World
War II had aimed to prevent any single power’s domination of
Korea, it may be reasonably concluded that the principal
reason for the division was to stop the Soviet advance south of
the 38th parallel
 THE CAUSES OF
PROXY WAR
• The Korean War, which lasted from 1950 to 1953, was a conflict
between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK)
and South Korea (Republic of Korea, ROK), with involvement from
international forces led by the United States on the side of South
Korea and China on the side of North Korea. The war had its roots in
the complex geopolitical dynamics of the post-World War II era.
• Tensions increased along the 38th parallel, with border clashes and
cross-border incursions becoming frequent. Both North and South
Korea sought reunification under their respective governments.
• On June 25, 1950, North Korean forces, led by Kim Il-sung, launched
a surprise invasion of South Korea, aiming to reunify the peninsula
under communist rule. The North Koreans quickly advanced,
capturing the capital, Seoul, and pushing South Korean and UN
forces (mostly composed of U.S. troops) to the southernmost tip of
the peninsula.
• The Korean War reached a stalemate, and negotiations began in
1951. After several years of talks, an armistice agreement was
signed on July 27, 1953, leading to the establishment of the Korean
Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) near the original 38th parallel. The
armistice, however, did not result in a formal peace treaty, and
technically, the Korean War has not ended.
THE INVOLVEMENT OF GREAT POWER UNITED STATED AND SOVIET

The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension and ideological rivalry between the United
States and its NATO allies on one side, and the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact allies on the
other. This conflict, which lasted roughly from the end of World War II in 1945 until the collapse
of the Soviet Union in 1991, had profound global impacts on politics, economics, and society.
Here are key aspects of the Cold War and its global impact:
Proxy Wars:
• The Cold War played out in various proxy wars where the superpowers supported opposing
sides without directly engaging in military conflict. Examples include the Korean War, the
Vietnam War, and conflicts in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. Proxy wars
allowed the superpowers to compete for influence without triggering a direct
confrontation.
The division of the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of separate states in North and
South Korea were closely tied to the geopolitical dynamics of the Cold War. The origins of the
Korean conflict and the establishment of the two Korean states can be traced back to the
aftermath of World War II
Post-Cold War Developments:
• With the end of the Cold War in the early 1990s and the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the
geopolitical landscape underwent significant changes. However, the Korean Peninsula
remained divided, and efforts to achieve lasting peace and reunification faced numerous
challenges.
THE IMPLICATION OF PROXY WAR
The Korean Armistice Agreement was signed on July 27, 1953, effectively bringing an end to
the active fighting in the Korean War. The armistice negotiations took place at the village of
Panmunjom, which was located near the 38th parallel, the original division line between
North and South Korea.
• Here are key details about the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement:
• Negotiations:
• The armistice negotiations began in July 1951 and lasted for more than two years. Representatives
from the United Nations Command (led by the United States), North Korea, and China engaged in
discussions to reach an agreement to cease hostilities and establish a demilitarized zone.
• Location:
• The signing ceremony took place at Panmunjom, a village located in the demilitarized zone.
Panmunjom straddles the border between North and South Korea and served as the site for armistice
talks.
• Parties Involved:
• The signatories of the armistice included Lieutenant General William K. Harrison, Jr., representing the
United Nations Command; North Korean General Nam Il, representing North Korea and the Chinese
People's Volunteer Army; and Kim Jong-suk, a North Korean representative.
• Terms of the Armistice:
• The armistice agreement established the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), a buffer area between
North and South Korea. The DMZ is approximately 2.5 miles wide and spans the entire Korean
Peninsula. The agreement also outlined provisions for the exchange of prisoners of war and
established a Military Armistice Commission to monitor compliance
THE IMPLICATION OF PROXY WAR
The division of North and South Korea, which originated during the Korean War and was formalized
by the Korean Armistice Agreement in 1953, has persisted for several decades. The Korean
Peninsula remains one of the most heavily militarized and politically sensitive areas in the world.
Several factors contribute to the continued division:
• No Peace Treaty:
• The Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. While the armistice halted active hostilities, it
did not establish a permanent peace settlement. The absence of a formal peace treaty means that the
Korean Peninsula is still technically in a state of war.
• Ideological and Political Differences:
• North and South Korea have divergent political ideologies and systems. North Korea, officially known as the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a highly centralized, authoritarian regime led by the ruling
Kim family. South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), has a democratic system with a market-
oriented economy. The ideological differences have contributed to the lack of political reconciliation.
• Military Presence and Tensions:
• The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), established by the armistice, remains a heavily fortified border. Both
North and South Korea maintain large military forces along the DMZ, and periodic incidents and tensions
continue to characterize the relationship between the two sides. The presence of significant military forces
on both sides contributes to the overall security concerns in the region.
• Isolation and Limited Communication:
• North Korea has historically been isolated from much of the international community, and communication
between North and South Korea has been limited. The two countries do not have diplomatic relations, and
direct communication channels are often strained. Efforts to promote dialogue and engagement have faced
significant challenges.
• Nuclear Ambitions:
• North Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons has been a major source of tension on the Korean Peninsula and in
the broader international community. The North Korean government's nuclear weapons program has led to
Conclusion
• ideology has been used to control and
manipulate the people of North Korea, with
the government using various tactics such as
punishment, imprisonment, and militarization
to ensure loyalty to the ideology of
communism.
• the ideological and political differences
between North and South Korea have
contributed to the lack of political
reconciliation between the two countries.
• the role of ideology is significant in shaping
the history and current state of the Korean
Peninsula
• understanding the role of ideology is
importance in shaping the political, economic,
and social landscape of a country or region.
THE
END