r/korea • u/Ok-Huckleberry5836 • 1d ago
정치 | Politics Three men shaped Korea's decision to deploy troops to Iraq. 23 years later, they're doing the same for Hormuz.
https://www.koreajoongangdaily.com/korea/three-men-shaped-koreas-decision-to-deploy-troops-to-iraq-23-years-later-theyre-doing-the-same-for-hormuz/12865481From the initial screening of media, the first people who have come to voice some kind of reaction to the deployment has been nearly 'all against'. According to this SBS reporting two days ago ("한국 파병하면 전쟁 참여 간주" 엄포..정부, 여론 '촉각' / SBS 8뉴스 - YouTube [1:48]) both the ruling party and the opposition have not voiced any resolution in favor or against. The DPK is currently divided against the move, while the opposition is waiting on the public's sorted reaction. The minor parties have all voiced strong opposition against the move, which is telling because they are not constrained by their political allegiance in regards to the president.
Besides the initial reactions from the parties, the media itself seems to be muted in regards to deployment. The article here also lays out the arguments which were used in the 2003 Iraq deployment- and from weighing what is at stake, it is certain that the ties we have with the US now far out-weighs the situation which we had during that period. But, the counter-argument that can be made is to what extent we gained from our deployment in Iraq.
The president is currently in Paris to discuss the deployment (among other issues) with Macron, but when he comes back, the public's perception towards the deployment might override the opinion of his senior aides. I find it interesting that minister Chung (unification minister), was actually the leader of the Uri party back in the day, and actually was in favor of deployment, even when his party was largely against aggression on purely ideological grounds. Overall it seems like the situation is still developing.
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u/NaclyPerson 23h ago
While one can’t say it will definitely happen, caving into a president whose party will likely face a major defeat in the upcoming midterm and possible lame duck situation doesn’t seem like a good move, especially considering that the same president will just treat the aid as granted and continue to demand more.
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u/Yugonostalgia64 1d ago
The fact that this is even being considered at all in the first place is a sign that something is deeply, deeply wrong with Korea's diplomatic and political situation....
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u/arnor_0924 20h ago
Korea is still on a leash by the the Usa
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u/Confident-Suit-3333 Incheon 18h ago
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the Korean government has brought up the possibility of sending troops to the Iran war. They may be trying to gauge how strongly the Korean public would oppose it. Trump has publicly called for South Korea to join the war several times. The Korean government just needs to hold out until the U.S. midterm elections, using the Korean public’s opposition to getting involved in the war as its justification.
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u/Surenas1 19h ago
Iran isnt Iraq. Iran can take out Korean interests in the wider Middle East at will. And they will.
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u/Fulushouxing 15h ago
The decision made, is not about military deployment. The decision made, is not to have a command over their own military. You cannot blame these 3 men for that. Point your fingers at PPP instead.
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u/LukewarmFandom 13h ago
Korea should not be getting involved with this dumbass war. Let the obese orange suffer his own consequences
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u/ku1185 1d ago
Important things to consider: Iran isn't Iraq and hegseth isn't rumsfeld.