military presence in the country is pretty different from occupation

45 fucking years the US propped up, armed, and aided the dictatorial rule of conservative and military governments in South Korea. South Korea's army still comes under US control in wartime, but sure 2 decades of just mostly corrupt "democracy" means they can just opt-out of US military garrisons. nothing bad would happen to the government that demands that, no matter how popular it is with the Korean people

if you're not willing to concede anything

the US won't concede basic demands like moving their troops off the border! fucking ridiculous equating Korea's refusal to expose itself to attack with US bases thousands of miles away from the US