SEOUL | Dozens of South Koreans marched near the U.S. Embassy in Seoul on Wednesday to oppose any deployment of South Korean military forces to the Strait of Hormuz, as President Lee Jae Myung’s government weighs how to respond to U.S. calls for greater support in the Middle East.
The protesters carried signs calling on Seoul to reject participation in what they described as a U.S.-led war, reflecting growing domestic concern over the risks of becoming directly involved in the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran. Channel NewsAsia, citing AFP, reported that demonstrators urged the government to stay out of the war.
Despite mounting pressure from Washington, Seoul has repeatedly stressed that no final decision has been made.
South Korea’s presidential office said Wednesday that the government remains in a cautious review of its options. The Defence Ministry has also rejected reports that Washington had demanded a specific deadline for Seoul to send troops.
Seoul has, however, taken a preliminary step by sending a Defence Ministry inspection team to the United Arab Emirates to assess security conditions around the Strait of Hormuz. Officials said the mission was for information gathering and was not conducted on the assumption that South Korean forces would be deployed.
South Korea is considering various ways of contributing to efforts to restore freedom of navigation, potentially including military assets. Any military deployment would require approval from the National Assembly.
The issue places Seoul in a difficult position. South Korea is a longstanding U.S. ally, but Iran has warned that South Korean participation in military operations in the Gulf would be viewed as support for U.S. aggression and could bring serious consequences.
The Strait of Hormuz is also critically important to South Korea’s economy. Reuters reported that the waterway carried 61% of South Korea’s crude oil imports and 54% of its naphtha imports last year, making uninterrupted navigation a major national economic concern.
The debate comes as traffic through the strait has fallen sharply amid the wider conflict. Reuters reported that only six commodity vessels passed through the waterway on Tuesday, compared with a 10-day average of 12. Before the latest escalation, the strait handled roughly 125 commercial vessels a day.
South Korea has faced a similar dilemma before. In January 2020, Seoul temporarily expanded the operating area of its Cheonghae Unit, an anti-piracy force established in 2009, to include the Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf near the Strait of Hormuz. The mission was conducted independently rather than as part of the U.S.-led maritime security coalition, reflecting Seoul’s effort at the time to protect its ships while maintaining relations with Iran.
The Cheonghae Unit was again sent toward the area in January 2021 after Iran seized the South Korean-flagged tanker Hankuk Chemi. The unit’s mission was to protect South Korean citizens and vessels while diplomatic efforts sought the crew’s release.
For President Lee’s government, the current decision carries both security and economic consequences. Joining a military operation could strengthen coordination with Washington but risk confrontation with Tehran, while staying out could complicate relations with its key ally as the United States seeks international support for securing one of the world’s most important energy routes.
For now, Seoul’s position remains under review, while the protests in Seoul underscore the domestic opposition to taking a direct military role in the Middle East.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
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- Venus L Peñaflor
