According to Yonhap News, the South Korean Ministry of National Defense stated on September 8 that it has dispatched a field investigation team to the Middle East to gain a grasp of the situation in the Gulf of Hormuz.
According to reports, the investigation team departed for the UAE last weekend. They are currently gathering information about the local situation, security conditions, and combat capabilities of the troops. They will return to Korea within this week at the earliest. The results of the investigation will be submitted to the South Korean National Security Council.
A person from the South Korean Ministry of National Defense emphasized that the dispatch of an investigation team is not based on actual troop deployment, and there is no conclusion yet regarding whether troops will be dispatched. Regarding reports that 'the United States has requested South Korea to send troops no later than November', the person stated that the US side has not set a deadline for South Korea's troop deployment.
According to Bloomberg, the South Korean Ministry of National Defense refused to confirm the specific location of this investigation team, citing concerns about operational safety.
After US President Donald Trump repeatedly mentioned South Korea, criticizing its insufficient contribution to the situation in the Middle East, there have been reports recently from the South Korean presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, indicating that South Korea may consider deploying military forces in the Strait of Hormuz. According to a report by the South Korean newspaper 'Chungang Daily' on the 3rd, South Korea is likely to send support ships or patrol vessels to assist US military ships operating near the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bagheri warned South Korea on social media on September 7 in Korean, stating that South Korea should not deploy troops in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, nor participate in military operations in the region. Any such participation would be considered direct support for the United States, potentially leading to "severe consequences."
South Korea is cautious about sending troops to the Strait of Hormuz. During his state visit to France on the 8th, South Korean President Li Jae-myeong said: "South Korea and France agree to continue close cooperation to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and to promote the rapid restoration of stability in the global supply chain."
A South Korean Presidential Office official who accompanied Lee Jae-myung on his visit to France said to reporters on the 8th that the South Korean side has clearly defined the general direction of international cooperation, but the specific details are still being discussed, and no final decision has been made yet.
Regarding the fact that the South Korean Ministry of National Defense has sent an investigation team to the Middle East to assess the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, the official stated that this move is part of the government's discussion of contributing solutions, and it does not mean that troop deployment is a prerequisite.
In addition, the aforementioned official also stated that South Korea has had working-level discussions with Iran regarding the deployment of troops. He said that after reports emerged about the South Korean government’s consideration of deploying troops to the Strait of Hormuz, Iran asked South Korea about its stance on troop deployment. South Korea conveyed that "there is no final decision yet" regarding this matter.
