South Korea's presidential office said Monday it will "carefully review" a U.S. request to dispatch warships to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
"Our vessels are in the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump has expressed his position," a senior presidential official said, offering a measured response. When asked whether sending warships could be perceived as entering a conflict, the official drew a clear line, stating "it would be difficult to view this as joining a war."
Although the U.S. has effectively requested warship deployments from five countries including South Korea, China, and Japan, the official suggested the request "is not limited to five countries," signaling Seoul's intent to avoid premature conclusions.
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday that "many countries, especially those affected by Iran's attempted blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, will be sending War Ships along with the United States, to keep the Strait open and safe."
He added: "Hopefully, China, France, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and others affected by this artificial constraint will be sending ships to the area so that the Strait of Hormuz is no longer threatened by a Country whose 'leadership' has been completely eliminated."
While Trump's first sentence suggests multiple nations will dispatch warships, his mention of specific countries including South Korea was prefaced with "Hopefully," indicating the statement remains more of a request than a firm commitment. The Trump administration has reportedly not yet made a formal request to the South Korean government.
Seoul is approaching the matter cautiously, given concerns that participating in a multinational maritime security operation in the Strait of Hormuz could draw the country into armed conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran. However, with Trump's message now public, the presidential office is expected to begin reviewing the matter. If the mission is framed as a simple "escort operation" rather than combat participation, discussions may proceed with that possibility in mind.