[Edaily Reporter Kim Sang-yoon, Trainee Reporter Kim Tae-seop] Just one day after President Lee Jae-myung drew a clear line, stating that there would be no troop deployment involving or intervening in a war related to the Strait of Hormuz, the Blue House clarified, “We have not rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s request.” While the government made clear its principle of non-participation in the conflict, critics point out that publicly setting a “red line” while South Korea-U.S. consultations are still underway has narrowed the government’s diplomatic and military room for maneuver.

At a press conference on the 18th, President Lee stated, “There will be no troop deployment involving involvement in or intervention in a war,” adding, “We will not engage in that type of troop deployment or the dispatch of military assets.” He also drew a line against the idea of assigning South Korean troops under the command of foreign forces. However, he noted that the government is considering strengthening the role of the Cheonghae Unit to protect merchant ships, oil transport routes, and the safety of citizens.
These remarks were interpreted as a rejection of demands from the Trump administration in the United States. The New York Times (NYT), in an article titled “Despite Trump’s Request, South Korean President Says He Will Not Send Troops to Iran,” reported that President Lee “pushed back against pressure from the Trump administration.” Although the article did not specify the exact form of support President Trump desired, it quoted President Trump as saying that he had asked President Lee last month for “a little help” but received a reply that he “would decline.”
In response, the Blue House stated on the 19th, “We have not rejected a request for cooperation regarding the Middle East,” adding that it would continue to review specific ways to contribute under the principle of non-intervention in war or combat. The implication is that while military support is ruled out, other forms of contribution—such as the protection of merchant ships—remain possible.
The President’s remarks came ahead of a meeting between Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. While the issue of cooperation to restore freedom of navigation was discussed during the actual meeting, the U.S. side did not present any specific requests for troop deployment. Although it remains unconfirmed whether the President’s remarks were the reason no progress was made on detailed discussions during the meeting, follow-up consultations will now take place within the publicly stated principle of “non-intervention in war.”
The deployment of P-8 maritime patrol aircraft and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams could also conflict with the principle outlined by the President if they are integrated into U.S. military operations to support a war against Iran. Expanding the Cheonghae Unit’s operational scope to the Strait of Hormuz raises the possibility that Iran might view this as participation in the war, as well as the issue of obtaining National Assembly approval. Groups opposing the troop deployment, such as the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), have pushed back, arguing that even strengthening the Cheonghae Unit’s role constitutes “military intervention and a backdoor deployment.”
Experts believe that while direct support during the war is off the table, participation in a maritime security coalition led by the United Kingdom and France after the war remains a possibility. However, it remains unclear whether South Korea will be able to meet the timing and level of contributions demanded by the United States. Shin Beom-cheol, a senior research fellow at the Sejong Institute, said, “I think they are keeping the door open to contributing to the Strait of Hormuz and leaving the possibility of participating in support efforts open, depending on how discussions regarding the international maritime coalition proceed.”