As the United States steps up pressure on allies to join efforts in securing the Strait of Hormuz, attention is turning to whether the South Korean government will also accelerate its review of troop deployment.
U.S. President Donald Trump publicly expressed frustration on August 20, stating that South Korea had shown no interest in helping the U.S. with the Strait of Hormuz issue.
President Trump claimed that he had asked the South Korean side at the time, "Could you help us out a bit?" but received a "No, thank you" response, adding that "it didn't make me feel very good."
U.S. Vice President JD Vance also recently asked, "What on earth have other countries around the world been doing?" and "Why should the United States be the only country that can ensure the continued supply of the global energy market?"
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright similarly stated that he expects other countries to join U.S. efforts in the future, adding, "Global trade is certainly important, but this should not be the sole responsibility of the United States."
Pressure from President Trump toward allies continues.
In an interview with the British conservative-leaning broadcaster GB News, President Trump claimed that although the UK relies heavily on the Strait of Hormuz for its oil, it did not help the U.S., and that he had asked NATO and former British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, "Can't you just send two ships?" but was refused.
He stated that the U.S. is handling the Strait of Hormuz issue "by itself," and regarding the responses of its allies, he remarked, "I'm not wounded. I call it a 'process of education.'"
Amid ongoing public pressure from the U.S., Cheong Wa Dae is reviewing options for a military contribution to ensure free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Currently, discussions are underway to exclude logistics support ships from the deployment assets and to scale down the deployment size to around 50 personnel.
The Ministry of National Defense stated that since this is not a decision for South Korea to make alone, it has been in consultations with relevant countries such as the UK and France, as well as the U.S.
Ministry Spokesperson Jeon Ha-gyu explained, "We have been consulting with various countries in the international community, including the UK, France, and the U.S., on every occasion, rather than behind the scenes."
The issue of deploying troops to the Strait of Hormuz may also be discussed during the summit between President Lee Jae-myung and French President Emmanuel Macron, who is currently visiting France.
However, the government's dilemma deepens as the U.S. maintains that it is waiting for South Korea's participation, while Iran has warned that supporting the U.S. will be considered "participation in the war."
Political circles are also divided.
Democratic Party Representative Park Ji-won said that considering the protection of South Korean vessels and South Korea-U.S. relations, "If it is a non-combat branch, isn't dispatching troops inevitable?"
People Power Party Representative Yoon Sang-hyun argued, "We must dispatch troops. It is late. Diplomacy is all about timing, and we are late."
On the other hand, Rebuilding Korea Party leader Shin Jang-shik opposed the deployment, stating that if troops are sent, "South Korea would become a belligerent party to Iran," which could lead to demands from the U.S. for further participation in the war.
The U.S. has repeatedly emphasized that stability in the Strait of Hormuz is directly linked to global energy supplies.
When asked about the possibility of safe passage for oil tankers, Secretary Wright answered, "I think it is possible if they are willing to cooperate with the U.S. Navy."
Vice President Vance also claimed, "Fifteen million barrels of oil went through the Strait of Hormuz last night, and that was thanks to the United States," adding, "If we don't do it and nobody does it, we will face a catastrophic energy crisis globally."
As U.S. demands for participation and Iranian warnings continue simultaneously, whether the South Korean government will decide to actually dispatch troops—and if so, what level of forces and assets it will commit—is expected to be the core of future discussions.
(Produced by JIN Sang-myeong, Video Editing by Hyeju, Produced by Digital News Department)
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