South Korea to broaden naval presence near Hormuz Strait

A proposal will be presented to parliament to allow the Cheonghae unit to operate in waters near the port of Duqm in Oman, a location approximately 650 kilometers (403 miles) from the strait. Approval is also required from President Lee Jae Myung and the cabinet.

“The enhancement of the Cheonghae unit’s mission is to protect our citizens and safeguard our economic interests,” a defense ministry official stated.

The expanded operations will be non-combat in nature and the unit will function independently. The unit’s activities will be limited to waters south of Oman, and maritime patrol aircraft will be restricted from targeting or monitoring Iranian territory, territorial waters, or the interior of the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump has publicly expressed concerns about South Korea’s level of support for efforts in Iran, which contributed to the scaling back of major joint military exercises between the two countries earlier this year.

The Cheonghae unit has been deployed to the Gulf of Aden since 2009 to ensure the safe passage of commercial ships.

The proposed motion also includes an extension of the unit’s deployment in the Middle East, currently scheduled to end in 2026, a ministry spokesperson confirmed, referencing a report by Yonhap news agency.

The unit currently consists of a 4,400-ton-class destroyer, a maritime operations helicopter, up to three rigid-hull inflatable boats, and approximately 300 personnel, according to YTN. A P-8A maritime patrol aircraft will also be deployed, and the unit’s personnel will increase by 75, as reported by the Korea Herald.

South Korea is heavily reliant on oil imports, sourcing 70% of its supply from the Middle East in 2025, primarily transported through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the industry ministry.

President Lee Jae Myung previously indicated on September 18th that he would avoid deploying military assets to the Middle East in a way that could escalate conflict, while also acknowledging a review of increased involvement in regional navigation security.