South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has officially rejected pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to deploy troops or military assets to support the U.S. war against Iran. Facing a domestic political crisis with approval ratings plunging to 37 percent, Lee is balancing South Korea's vital security alliance with Washington against strong domestic opposition and the risk of Iranian retaliation. While ruling out direct combat involvement, Seoul is reviewing plans to expand its naval operations to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
South Korea troop deployment refusal
- ▪South Korean President Lee Jae-myung ruled out deploying troops or military assets to the Middle East to join the United States in its war against Iran.
- ▪South Korean President Lee Jae-myung stated during a press conference on September 18, 2026, that South Korea will not deploy troops or military assets that would lead to involvement or intervention in the war with Iran.
US military drill reduction
- ▪The scaling back of major joint military drills by the United States and South Korea during the summer of 2026 unsettled South Korea, which hosts approximately 28,500 U.S. soldiers.
- ▪U.S. President Donald Trump canceled long-planned joint military drills with South Korea, citing Seoul's refusal to assist with the war in Iran and his friendship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Lee approval rating decline
- ▪South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's approval rating fell to a record low of 37 percent in a poll released on September 17, 2026, down from a high of 67 percent earlier in 2026.
- ▪South Korean President Lee Jae-myung reshuffled his cabinet by replacing his finance, defense, and justice ministers, while his top policy adviser Kim Yong-beom stepped down.
- ▪South Korean President Lee Jae-myung apologized to citizens struggling with economic difficulties, which include high property prices in Seoul despite record profits for chipmakers SK Hynix Inc and Samsung Electronics Co.
US investment commitment negotiations
- ▪South Korea postponed a parliamentary briefing on its U.S. investment plans, which is expected to take place during the week of September 21, 2026.
- ▪South Korean President Lee Jae-myung stated that concern over the commercial viability of South Korea's $350 billion investment package is the main sticking point in reaching an agreement with the United States
- ▪South Korea and the United States are negotiating a trade package under which Seoul committed to invest $350 billion in U.S. manufacturing in exchange for Washington lowering tariffs on South Korean imports to 15 percent.
Strait of Hormuz security
- ▪South Korea maintains a naval presence off the coast of Somalia as part of an ongoing anti-piracy mission.
- ▪South Korea is reviewing options to play a greater role in safeguarding commercial shipping and crude shipments in the Strait of Hormuz, possibly by expanding the operations of its existing naval unit.
Debatable claims
- ▪South Korea should expand its naval operations to the Strait of Hormuz
- ▪South Korea should refuse to join the US war against Iran
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