Lee Rules Out South Korean Military Role in Middle East War Conflict

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Friday that South Korea would not send its military to take part in the ongoing Middle East conflict.

He said Seoul had no plans to become directly involved in the war, while stressing that the government was looking at ways to protect South Korean citizens, ships and energy supplies in the region.

Lee’s comments come as concerns grow over security around the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipments.

South Korea is considering measures to protect its commercial vessels and crude oil supplies, but the president said any such steps would not amount to joining the conflict.

• Lee rules out South Korean military role in ongoing Middle East conflict
• South Korea focuses on shipping and energy security amid Middle East war
• Seoul avoids direct military involvement while protecting Gulf interests

Seoul Focuses on Protecting Ships and Citizens

The Strait of Hormuz has become a major concern for countries that rely on the region for energy supplies. South Korea imports most of its energy, making the safe movement of oil and other goods through the waterway particularly important.

Lee said Seoul needed to take limited measures to protect its economic interests and citizens without becoming involved in military operations. The government is therefore looking at ways to strengthen maritime security while keeping South Korean forces away from direct combat.

South Korea already has the Cheonghae Unit, a naval force that operates in waters around the Gulf of Aden and the Middle East. The unit has carried out missions to protect South Korean ships and citizens and has experience operating in areas affected by security threats.

The government is considering whether the unit's role could be expanded if the situation around the Strait of Hormuz worsens. However, Lee made clear that this would not mean sending South Korean troops to fight in the conflict.

He also ruled out deploying forces under foreign command for operations connected to the war. Seoul's position is that protecting shipping and citizens is different from taking part in military action.

US Alliance Creates Additional Pressure

South Korea's decision comes as its relationship with the United States faces questions over how Seoul should respond to the conflict. US President Donald Trump has criticised South Korea over what Washington sees as limited support for US efforts in the region.

The issue has added another challenge for Lee's government as it tries to maintain its US-South Korea alliance while protecting South Korea's own economic and security interests.

South Korea depends heavily on Middle East oil imports. Any major disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could therefore affect the country's energy supplies and wider economy. This has made the security of the waterway an important issue for Seoul, even as it avoids direct military involvement.

South Korean officials have also been in contact with countries in the region. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun recently discussed the situation around the Strait of Hormuz with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. Seoul has said it supports the freedom and safety of navigation and wants maritime routes to remain open.

Iran has warned that South Korean military involvement in the Gulf or Strait of Hormuz could be viewed as support for US military action. Seoul's current approach focuses on avoiding that situation while continuing to protect its ships, citizens and energy interests.

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Lee's statement therefore draws a clear line between maritime protection and participation in the war. South Korea will continue to assess the security situation and protect its interests, but the president said the country would not deploy its military in a way that would make it a direct participant in the Middle East war.