Song Eon-seok: "Deployment to Hormuz Requested by Trump Requires Parliamentary Approval"

"Immediate National Assembly Discussion and Approval Procedures Needed"

Song Unseok, floor leader of the People Power Party, stated on March 16, "The government should immediately initiate discussions in the National Assembly and follow the constitutional procedure for National Assembly approval regarding the dispatch of naval vessels to the Strait of Hormuz, as requested by U.S. President Donald Trump."

Song Unseok, leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the floor countermeasure meeting held at the National Assembly on March 13, 2026. Photo by Hyunmin Kim

At the Supreme Council meeting held earlier that morning, Floor Leader Song explained, "The Strait of Hormuz is a vital area directly linked to our national interests, as 65% of our country's crude oil imports pass through it. However, the issue of dispatching naval vessels constitutes a significant decision, as it involves deploying our military to a region where combat is highly likely."

Song further emphasized, "Relocating the Cheonghae Unit, which is currently operating in the Gulf of Aden, to the Strait of Hormuz also changes the original purpose of the deployment, so a National Assembly approval process is necessary. When it comes to the lives and safety of our soldiers, the government must not make unilateral decisions or disregard constitutional procedures."

He added, "Last week, I requested the Ministry of National Defense to report on the deployment issue, but I have yet to receive any report on this matter. The current international situation is extremely grave, due to the possibility of a U.S.–Iran war and ongoing South Korea–U.S. trade negotiations. The more significant a diplomatic or security issue is, the more the government should respond based on sufficient consultation and agreement with the National Assembly."

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