"Troop Deployment Equals National Interest", "We Must Act Preemptively"... Some Within People Power Party Call for Participation in 'Hormuz Escort'

Within the People Power Party, there have been consecutive calls for the government to respond actively to U.S. President Donald Trump's request for troop deployment to the Strait of Hormuz.

On the 19th, Ahn Cheolsoo, a member of the People Power Party, argued that "the deployment of troops to Hormuz should be utilized as a means to secure economic and security assets." Photo by The Asia Business Daily Database

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On the 19th, Ahn Cheol-soo, a member of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee from the People Power Party, stated via social media, "The deployment of troops to Hormuz should be utilized as a means to secure economic and security assets."

Assemblyman Ahn said, "President Trump's diplomacy is a 'package' approach that combines military, economic, and trade elements," and argued that "if we respond passively to the deployment, it could lead to pressure in the economic and trade sectors." He went on to emphasize, "As a condition for proactive participation, we must obtain an explicit commitment for the swift construction of nuclear-powered submarines, as well as expanded rights to uranium enrichment and spent nuclear fuel reprocessing."

He further suggested, "Now is the time to move beyond mere rhetoric about self-reliant defense and advance toward a strong security policy that ensures military means and physical capabilities."

Additionally, Park Sooyoung, the secretary of the National Assembly's Strategy and Finance Committee from the same party, stated at a policy meeting with oil industry representatives held at the National Assembly on the same day, "The crisis in the Middle East is no longer someone else's war," adding, "Not only are our ships and citizens being held hostage, but this is an urgent situation that affects our exchange rate, oil prices, the cost of living, and the entire livelihood economy, and ultimately, all of our nation's industries and economy."

Assemblyman Park asserted, "We must preemptively declare our military's participation in escort operations in the Strait of Hormuz," and argued, "By doing so, we will be able to take the initiative and strengthen our voice in future negotiations with the United States on various economic and security issues that will arise in countless areas."

Assemblyman Cho Jeonghoon, the opposition party secretary of the Korea-US Parliamentary Association, stated through social media, "Now, dispatching troops is directly tied to national interest." The Asia Business Daily DB

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Cho Jeonghun, the opposition party secretary of the Korea-US Parliamentary Association, also stated via social media, "At this moment, troop deployment equates to national interest." Assemblyman Cho expressed concern, saying, "If Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announces a deployment at the Japan-U.S. summit, South Korea's position will inevitably become weaker. In the end, the Lee Jaemyung administration will lose the initiative and be forced into the worst possible choice."

Assemblyman Cho said, "It is certainly a painful and difficult decision. However, we cannot postpone it indefinitely," adding, "If the Lee Jaemyung administration's pragmatic diplomacy is not merely cowardly opportunism, then the decision to deploy troops must be made immediately. If not now, it will be too late."

Previously, President Trump strongly urged allies such as South Korea, Japan, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to dispatch warships to the Strait of Hormuz through his social media account on the 14th (local time). However, when there was no response from these nations, on the 17th, he publicly expressed direct disappointment and anger toward the allies, stating, "No further support is necessary."

On the 17th, Ahn Kyubaek, Minister of National Defense, stated, "We have not received any official request from the United States regarding the deployment of naval vessels to the Strait of Hormuz," and added, "(The U.S. President) leaving a message on social media is not considered an official request." He continued, "We are conducting various internal reviews, but we do not believe there is anything to disclose at this time."

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