Not really trying to "whitewash" the military. I was just pointing out the difference between the average cop in America and the average service member in Korea.

The military is definitely part of the police state and will obviously do their jobs, especially the command structure. However, there is a big difference between the socially acceptable use of state violence between the two countries.

President's word was needed to end it. But at the very least from an outsider perspective, it certainly looks like the military was attempting to enforce the President's will and

Much like America the president is the commander and chief of the military, and thus the military must follow lawful orders.

was taking advantage of the opportunity to be as authoritarian as it could.

I think that's a bit of an over exaggeration considering there wasn't a mass casualty event or even real violence. Which is definitely an improvement considering South Korea was a highly violent military dictatorship within my own lifetime.