South Koreans protest over possible plan to send forces to back US in Hormuz

South Koreans protest over possible plan to send forces to back US in Hormuz Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 09/09/2026 - 10:27 Iran warns South Korea that involvement would be treated as 'direct support for war of aggression' People protest against South Korea’s potential military involvement in US operations in the Strait of Hormuz, in Seoul on 9 September 2026 (Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP) Off Protests have broken out in South Korea against government proposals to send its forces to back US operations in the Strait of Hormuz.

Seoul said on Friday it was considering "contributions" to US security efforts along the strait, and on Tuesday sent what it called a fact-finding mission to the crucial waterway.

Iran has already warned that any South Korean deployment would be "regarded as direct support for the party responsible for that aggression and will have serious consequences".

Demonstrators gathered outside the US embassy in Seoul on Wednesday with placards urging the government not to join the "war of aggression" against Iran.

Footage released on social media showed police pushing back dozens of protesters from the embassy.

Jung Kyung-jik of the civic group People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy told AFP that he understood why Iran would see the intervention as a threat.

"As Iran has said, the deployment of our troops to the region would amount to direct participation in an illegal war," he said.

"There have been numerous violations of international law arising from US attacks on Iran, including the bombing of an elementary school and energy infrastructure.

" Washington pressure South Korea has faced mounting pressure from Washington to join efforts around the Strait of Hormuz.

US President Donald Trump previously blasted Seoul for not backing the US war on Iran and tied the spat to wider strains in the US-South Korea alliance.

South Korea also depends heavily on the waterway for its energy supplies.

South Korea confirms US moving air defence systems to the Middle East Read More » Last year, the country relied on shipments traversing Hormuz for 61 percent of its crude oil imports and 54 percent of its naphtha imports.

Further options under consideration include deploying a P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and a naval logistics support ship, a report by the Guardian said.

South Korean broadcasters also reported that a navy explosive ordnance disposal team could be included.

Any new deployment of military personnel would have to be reviewed by South Korea’s National Security Council, passed by a resolution of the cabinet and approved by the National Assembly, the presidential office said.

Under pressure from Washington, South Korea expanded the deployment of an anti-piracy naval unit from Somalia to waters around the Strait of Hormuz in 2019.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung discussed the Strait of Hormuz with French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday, but the talks concerned possible contributions to international efforts to ensure security and freedom of navigation, not troop deployment, Seoul's presidential office said.

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