Protests and Power Turbines—Korea, 1980

Abstract

Following the assassination of President Park Chung Hee in South Korea in 1979, the UK had two objectives. The first, maintaining stability on the peninsula, was achieved. But this was through the efforts of the USA and the UK had no influence over the outcome or direction of US policy. The second was to win a nuclear power station turbine contract. In this, it failed. British companies did win other orders but from 1974–1984 German exports to Korea grew much more than British ones, despite Germany taking a firmer line on human rights and against political repression than did the UK. From the broader perspective of the European Community, experience in Korea in the 1980s was of only limited co-operation, with countries ready to hide behind a common position when it suited them but ready to break ranks if they saw advantage in doing so. It is far from certain that this approach yielded greater success than a more co-operative political stance would have. Instead, the Koreans were quick to spot the divisions and successfully played off the different member states against one another.