South Korean President Lee Jae Myung officially ruled out deploying armed forces to the Middle East in any role that could draw the country into direct conflict with Iran.
The declaration comes after weeks of diplomatic pressure from the United States urging Seoul to send naval and aerial assets to the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian authorities had previously warned Seoul that any South Korean operational presence in the waterway would be treated as hostile participation in the conflict. While rejecting active combat missions, President Lee indicated that the government continues evaluating measures to safeguard commercial shipping routes and protect national energy imports.
The decision highlights South Korea's delicate effort to maintain its critical alliance with Washington while preventing retaliation against its commercial fleet in strategic shipping corridors. President Lee also noted ongoing diplomatic coordination with Washington to explore the possibility of future direct talks between the United States and North Korea.