Tens of thousands of US troops are currently stationed overseas in dozens of different countries.
The foreign policy that the United States has continued to push forward with for decades now has left them with hundreds of military bases around the world. They are currently the largest operator of military bases abroad, with hundreds of locations scattered in more than 50 different countries.
Their reach extends far beyond Washington, their "nation building" activities have grown into a multi-trillion dollar endeavor, trying to police the world and bring "freedom and democracy" to all those who need it.
And it's costing them more than $100 billion every year to keep up with it.
But most of the military, vets, and their families, the general public etc, agree that it's time to bring troops home.
Many people don't feel as if the United States has a clear purpose in places like Afghanistan and Syria. And after almost 20 years it doesn't look like they are any closer to achieving their goal than they were at the start. Though, the never-ending wars are rather convenient for those selling the weapons or for those who are looking to introduce new rules, and gain more power, in an attempt to "solve" the problem.
It's costing too much.
The United States has recently suggested that South Korea pay more for the defense, a demand which protesters aren't happy with. What they should really do though, is bring the troops home and focus on their own territory instead of positioning themselves all over the world.
It's an end which they will eventually be forced to embrace because this current foreign policy is a bottomless sinkhole that is costing the people too much and giving too little in-return.
Protesters in South Korea criticized that the U.S. for wanting SK to funnel the nation's wealth into an endless arms race to confront Russia and China, a move which they feel would pose great risk to their security, peace, and overall economy.