By The South Asia Times

SEOUL - South Korea has not made a final decision on whether to deploy military forces to the Strait of Hormuz, the presidential office said Friday, as Seoul reviews possible contributions to international efforts to ensure freedom of navigation through the strategically vital waterway.

A presidential official said South Korea could consider making military contributions to protect maritime navigation in the strait, provided any deployment does not undermine the country’s defense readiness on the Korean Peninsula, according to Yonhap News.

The comments followed media reports that the South Korean government was preparing to seek parliamentary approval for a possible deployment, including a combat support ship.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stressed that the government had not reached the stage of seeking parliamentary approval and that no final decision had been made.

“In order to make tangible contributions to the Strait of Hormuz, this should first be considered in light of our readiness posture on the Korean Peninsula, as well as in accordance with local legal procedures,” the official said.

The presidential office said Seoul was considering a range of options rather than limiting the discussion to combat forces.

Potential contributions could include noncombat personnel, search and rescue forces and other forms of support, the official said, emphasizing that a military deployment would not necessarily mean participation in combat operations.

“When you hear troop deployment, you tend to associate it with combat, but that should not necessarily be the case,” the official said.

The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial global energy corridor connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the wider Arabian Sea. Any disruption to shipping through the waterway could have significant implications for international energy markets and global trade.

The discussion comes after US President Donald Trump increased pressure on South Korea to contribute military assets to efforts to maintain freedom of navigation through the strait.

Trump has repeatedly accused Seoul of rejecting his request for a military contribution.

The South Korean presidential office said its review would take into account the country’s military readiness and domestic legal procedures before any decision is made.

The official also rejected speculation that the Hormuz issue had stalled ongoing Seoul-Washington negotiations aimed at implementing an economic and defense agreement reached last year as part of a broader tariff arrangement.

However, the official acknowledged that the negotiations were not progressing smoothly and said semiconductor-related issues were also being discussed.

Earlier this week, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the Trump administration was working on a “targeted” and “thoughtful” tariff policy for semiconductors.

The Hormuz deployment question therefore comes at a sensitive time in South Korea-US relations, with Seoul weighing its strategic commitments to Washington against its own security requirements and domestic legal procedures.