South Korea Rules Out Military Involvement
South Korea will not deploy military forces to the Middle East in a way that would draw the country directly into the ongoing conflict involving Iran, President Lee Jae Myung said on Friday, September 18, 2026. The announcement comes as Seoul faces growing concerns over the safety of its citizens, commercial vessels and energy supplies in the region. South Korea is heavily dependent on imported energy, making the security of major shipping routes an important national concern. Speaking at a news conference, President Lee said South Korea would not send military assets for the purpose of entering or participating in the war. At the same time, he indicated that Seoul was examining limited measures to protect commercial shipping, crude oil shipments and South Korean citizens operating in the region. One area receiving particular attention is the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important maritime passage through which a significant amount of the world's energy supplie...