South Korean public opinion has become very anti-American. Stationing American troops in South Korea, even though their main function was to defend the south against another invasion, was never all that popular. As memories of communist atrocities during the 1950-53 war fade from memory, newer generations have become increasingly nationalistic and anti-American. Crimes or vehicle accidents involving US troops and South Koreans have increasingly made headlines and become focal points for demonstrations against the US presence in South Korea. All of this is big news in South Korea at the moment, although neither the US or the South Korean government wants to touch the subject of withdrawing US troops.