New mission would remain non-combat and independent of allies
South Korea’s defense ministry said it will submit a motion to parliament expanding the anti-piracy Cheonghae unit’s operating area to waters near the port of Duqm in Oman, about 650 km from the Strait of Hormuz. The motion also needs approval from President Lee Jae Myung and the cabinet.
The proposal came after Donald Trump criticized South Korea for what he called insufficient support for the Iran war. Moving the unit closer to the strait would place additional South Korean naval personnel and aircraft within reach of a waterway central to the country’s oil imports.
A defense ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “The enhancement of the Cheonghae unit’s mission is to protect our citizens and safeguard our economic interests.” The official said the reinforcement was strictly for non-combat purposes and that the unit would operate independently of allied forces.
The official also said, “Operations will remain restricted to the open waters south of Oman, and the maritime patrol aircraft will be prohibited from targeting or monitoring Iranian territory, territorial waters or the interior of the strait of Hormuz during their missions.”
The security risks around the strait were evident as Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said two oil tankers and a tugboat had caught fire in separate incidents after attempting to use unauthorized routes through the waterway. The IRGC said on Thursday that one tanker struck a mine while trying to cross a passage south of the strait. A second supertanker caught fire while exiting a route in the eastern part of the strait, and a tugboat that approached the second vessel to help extinguish the fire also caught fire.
South Korea relies heavily on oil imports. According to the industry ministry, the country sourced 70% of its supplies from the Middle East in 2025, most of it delivered through the Strait of Hormuz.
President Lee’s position on 18 September was that South Korea would not deploy military assets to the Middle East in a way that could draw the country into conflict. He also said Seoul was reviewing a greater role in safeguarding navigation in the region.
Trump also scaled back major joint military drills by the two countries’ armed forces this summer, a move that unsettled the U.S. ally. The change followed his criticism of what he called insufficient South Korean support for the Iran war.
According to broadcaster YTN, the Cheonghae unit currently includes a 4,400-ton-class destroyer, a maritime operations helicopter, up to three rigid-hull inflatable boats and about 300 service members. The Korea Herald reported that Seoul would deploy a P-8A maritime patrol aircraft and increase the unit’s personnel by 75.
The Cheonghae unit has been stationed in the Gulf of Aden since 2009 to ensure safe navigation for commercial vessels. A ministry spokesperson said the motion also seeks to extend its deployment to the Middle East, which is set to expire at the end of 2026. The spokesperson confirmed a Yonhap news agency report.
The expansion still requires approval from parliament, President Lee and the cabinet. The ministry said the mission would remain limited to non-combat operations and that the unit would operate independently of allied forces.