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was that this was a mistake but that as long as the U.S.-Korea security alli-
ance held firm, South Korea would be secure from external attack. U.S.
policymakers also believed that Park had done a good job with the economy,
and a continuing strong economic picture would blunt criticism internally
for his lack of democracy. Human rights was not important enough to “rock
the boat” and risk instability.
This all changed with the election to the presidency of Jimmy Carter in
.