President Lee: "No Troop Deployment Involving War... Minimum Required Actions Only"

President Lee Jae-myung stated on the 18th, regarding the issue of deploying troops to the Hormuz Strait, "There will be no troop deployment that involves participating or intervening in war." He further clarified, "We will not send troops or military assets in such a manner."

President Lee Jae-myung is holding a press conference at the Blue House State Guest House on the 18th. September 18, 2026 Yonhap News Agency

During a press conference held that morning at the Blue House State Guesthouse, President Lee addressed questions about troop deployment, saying, "We have maintained this principle until now, and this principle will remain unchanged in the future." This marked the first time President Lee directly expressed his position on the U.S. request for a troop deployment. However, he also added, "It is clear that, just as other countries do, we must at least carry out basic activities to protect our own merchant vessels, oil transportation routes, and the lives and safety of our citizens."

President Lee explained, "The Cheonghae Unit has already been dispatched to respond to threats to the safety of our citizens and shipping lanes, including piracy." He continued, "It is true that we are reviewing and carefully considering further strengthening these efforts." Nevertheless, he emphasized once again, "There seem to be concerns such as, 'Isn't this a troop deployment that involves intervening, engaging, or supporting a war?' 'Is there a possibility of sending combat troops?' 'Could we be placing our service members in danger under the command of foreign forces?' To reiterate clearly, there will be no troop deployment for war-related purposes."

The government has continued to deliberate over the issue of deploying troops to the Hormuz Strait. With Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun currently visiting Washington, D.C., and scheduled to hold the first bilateral meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio since the Middle East crisis on the 18th (local time), it is expected that Korea will both listen to the U.S. position and explain its own during the talks. The final government decision regarding deployment will likely be confirmed following domestic procedures after the diplomatic meeting.

The government’s cautious stance regarding the deployment of troops to the Hormuz Strait was also apparent the previous day. The regular National Security Council (NSC) Standing Committee meeting, which is usually held every Thursday, was exceptionally not convened. Minister of Unification Jeong Dongyoung, a member of the Standing Committee, responded "No" when questioned by Assemblyman Ahn Cheolsoo of the People Power Party during a full session of the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee regarding whether there were any plans to convene the NSC before the Korea-U.S. foreign ministers' meeting. Considering that the Korea-U.S. foreign ministers' meeting was scheduled for the morning of the 18th (local time) in Washington, D.C., this also implied that no NSC Standing Committee meeting would be held that day. There had been speculation that, even if no conclusion was reached, the committee would meet to discuss the issue of deployment, but the NSC Standing Committee meeting itself was entirely canceled.

This appears to take into account public opposition to the deployment. As public opposition to sending troops to the Hormuz Strait has intensified—and even members of the ruling party have voiced dissent—the government is moderating the pace of related discussions. At a full session of the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee the previous day, Woo Wonshik, a Democratic Party lawmaker and former Speaker of the National Assembly, pointed out, "When we sent troops to Iraq, the U.S. had been attacked in the 9/11 terrorist incident, which made the deployment justifiable in terms of the Korea-U.S. alliance and humanitarian grounds, but this time it is actually a war of aggression by the U.S." Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Giheon also stated, "I am absolutely opposed to directly participating in war." Lawmakers from four progressive parties—the Innovation Party, Progressive Party, Basic Income Party, and Social Democratic Party—held a picket protest in front of the plenary hall that afternoon, calling for the immediate passage of a resolution against the Hormuz deployment.

First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Yoonju, who attended the meeting, also commented, "We are fundamentally approaching this issue in terms of maritime security, energy supply line safety, and the safety of local residents and nationals, rather than solely from the perspective of Korea-U.S. relations."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.