South Korea’s presidential office dismissed media reports on Friday claiming Seoul is preparing an immediate military deployment to the Strait of Hormuz, clarifying that “nothing has been decided” and that internal evaluations remain underway.
Refuting reports that South Korea was gearing up to send forces to the strategic waterway, a presidential official told The Guardian that the claims “differ from reality,” emphasizing that the government continues to conduct close consultations with international partners to determine practical ways to support freedom of navigation and regional stability.
The denial follows domestic media reports citing military sources that claimed Seoul planned to seek National Assembly approval to deploy a P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, a logistics support ship, and an explosive ordnance disposal unit.
The surrounding debate comes against a backdrop of heightened pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who criticized South Korea over its reluctance to commit military assets to the region and subsequently scaled back the duration of the joint “Ulchi Freedom Shield” military exercises.
South Korea remains acutely vulnerable to supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, relying on the vital maritime passage for over 90 percent of its primary energy and approximately 70 percent of its crude oil imports. Officials noted that any future military deployment would strictly require a formal review by the National Security Council, cabinet approval, and final ratification by the National Assembly.
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