THE SOUTH KOREAN EXPERIENCE 91 most of the Third World countries. The per capita GNP in 1983 was $ 1880. Several studies, including a sizeable number under the auspices of the World Bank have sought to identify the factors that have been responsible for the rate of growth of South Korea's GNP and in particular the growth rate of its exports since 1962. Among the factors that have been identified are the commitment of the political leadership (for 18 years Park Chung Hee 1961-1979 and Chun Doo Hwan since 1980) to growth through an all out promotion of exports, a wide range of incentives and disincentives (carrot and stick policy) to promote exports and starve the domestic market, an efficient bureaucracy and a pragmatic approach to export policy implementation, a close nexus between the Government, financial institutions and the corporate'sector, effective international marketing techniques, weak labour organizations, low wages and long hours of work and foreign resources etc.1. However, important these factors may be, they do not in themselves provide an adequate explanation of the true nature and characteristics of the export-oriented regime unless they are seen operating in a certain context and framework. The stakes and strategies of the United States and Japan in South Korea, the interlacing of the ideological, military and economic factors hi Ac complex web of special relationships between the United States, South Korea and Japan and the symbiotic relationship of a rapidly burgeoning, pampered capitalist class with a ruthless militarist regime since May 1961, provide the context in which the specific policy details of the export-oriented regime and its inherent contradictions should be seen. This paper is an attempt at delineating the context and some of the more important characteristics of the South Korean export-oriented regime. U.S. Stakes and Strategies In no other Asian nation or an ex-colonial nation which has remained divided against the wishes of its people has the USA been more continuously and deeply involved than in Korea. The involvement has manifested itself in many ways—ideological, military, economic and cultural. The active involvement began when the US forces arrived in Korea on -8 September 1945 ostensibly to accept the surrender of enemy Japanese forces and took control of the area South of the 38th parallel. The area included two-thirds of Korea's population, Seoul the traditional capital for centuries, a substantial part of its agricultural capacity and a good share of its light industry. The additional advantages of the area included proximity to Japan and an opening to the Pacific Ocean. Soon after their arrival the US forces refused to recognize the indigeneous popular, patriotic forces and their political organizations and structures like the Committee for the Promotion of Korean Independence (CPKI), People's Committees (145 all over the country) and the Korean People's Republic that had been proclaimed on 6 September 1945. Before long the US occupation forces imoosed their own military Government