U.S. President Donald Trump recently cited incorrect figures for U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) troop levels while urging related nations to deploy forces over Iran's potential blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump told reporters in the White House that "we have to remember we have 45,000 troops in Japan. We have 45,000 troops in South Korea. And we have 45,000 to 50,000 troops in Germany." However, this does not match reality. USFK numbers approximately 28,500 personnel.
More recently, the U.S. Department of Defense decided to break with decades of precedent by withholding the Global Posture Review (GPR), a key strategic document outlining overseas U.S. military deployment plans and priorities.
According to Politico and other U.S. political media outlets, the Pentagon chose not to release the GPR, citing concerns that it could expose strategic plans to competitors such as China and Russia. The department reportedly plans to share only limited information even with the U.S. Congress, which approves related budgets.
The GPR is a document that defines the deployment of overseas U.S. military assets and personnel and the Defense Department's strategic direction. From South Korea's perspective, changes in the GPR significantly affect national security strategy, raising concerns that the decision to withhold it could heighten security threats.
In 2004, when the George W. Bush administration restructured its strategy around the end of the Cold War and the response to the September 11 attacks, its GPR introduced the concept of a "rapid deployment force" for overseas troops. As a result, USFK was reduced in stages from 37,500 in 2003, with 9,000 personnel cut.
Trump has cited incorrect USFK troop numbers, and the Pentagon has said it will not disclose overseas military deployment plans. Some observers warn this could compound security threats on the Korean Peninsula, viewing it as an extension of the "go-it-alone" defense posture Trump has adopted since taking office — making military decisions and notifying Congress and allies only after the fact.
Given these developments, how large is the USFK force stationed on the Korean Peninsula to counter North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and China's military buildup, and where and how many USFK bases are in operation?
According to data on "USFK troop strength and USFK base provision status" submitted by the Ministry of National Defense to the office of Rep. Kang Sun-young of the People Power Party on the National Assembly's National Defense Committee on the 31st, six commands are subordinate to USFK Command, which oversees all U.S. military personnel stationed in South Korea.
These are: the U.S. Eighth Army Command (including the 2nd Infantry Division, 501st Military Intelligence Brigade, 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 65th Medical Brigade, 1st Signal Brigade, and 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command), U.S. Naval Forces Korea, U.S. Marine Forces Korea, U.S. Special Operations Command Korea, the U.S. Seventh Air Force Command (including the 8th Fighter Wing and 51st Fighter Wing), and U.S. Space Forces Korea.
USFK is known to maintain approximately 28,500 troops, over 90 fighter jets, more than 40 helicopters, over 280 armored vehicles, more than 10 howitzers, over 40 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS), more than 60 Patriot launchers, and one Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery.
The USFK commander is a U.S. Army four-star general who is confirmed through U.S. congressional hearings. The commander also serves concurrently as the Combined Forces Command commander and United Nations Command commander.
USFK oversees all U.S. military branches in South Korea, including the predominant U.S. Army as well as the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and a small U.S. Space Force contingent. A four-star general is assigned given the geopolitical and military importance of the Korean Peninsula. By contrast, the commander of U.S. Forces Japan, a rear-support force primarily composed of Air Force and Navy/Marine Corps units, is a three-star Air Force general.
South Korea provides 95.68 million square meters of land for USFK base use, with a total of 62 USFK installations.
By region, Seoul has two sites: Yongsan Garrison (Yongsan-gu) and Camp Mose (Jung-gu). Incheon and Gangwon Province have two and one sites, respectively: the Incheon Mail Terminal and Goryeosan Site (Incheon), and the Pilseung Firing Range in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province.
Northern Gyeonggi Province has 16 sites: Alamo Site, Bayonet Training Area, and Gun Training Area (Yeoncheon); Bullseye #1 Training Area, Bullseye #2 Training Area, and Papyeongsan Control Station (Paju); Camp Casey, Camp Hovey, Camp Castle (North), and Camp Mobile (Dongducheon); Camp Stanley and Concord Site (Uijeongbu); Sinbuk Relay, Watkins Range, and Yeongpyeong Training Area (Pocheon); and Camp Gwangsari (Yangju).
Southern Gyeonggi Province has 13 sites: Seongnam Airfield and Tango Bunker (Seongnam); Madison Site and Suwon Airfield (Suwon); Beyon Site and Camp Yongin (Yongin); Bison Site (Yangpyeong); U.S. 39th Special Forces Detachment (Icheon); and CPX Training Area, Camp Humphreys, RTO Site, Osan Air Base, and Osan Alpha Ammunition Depot (Pyeongtaek).
The Chungcheong region has five sites — two in Daejeon, one in Chungcheongbuk-do, and two in Chungcheongnam-do: Camp Ames and Richmond Site (Daejeon), Cheongju Airfield (Cheongju), and High Point Site and the 3rd Ammunition Depot (Cheonan).
Daegu has five sites: Camp Henry/George, Camp Walker, Dartboard Site, Daegu Area 47 Supply Depot, and Daegu Airfield.
Gyeongsangbuk-do has seven sites and Gyeongsangnam-do has three. In Gyeongsangbuk-do: Camp Carroll (Chilgok), Salem Site (Gumi), Gimcheon DRMO (Gimcheon), Seongju Base (Seongju), Yecheon Airfield (Yecheon), Camp Mujeok, and Pohang Airfield (Pohang). In Gyeongsangnam-do: Brooklyn Site (Yangsan), Masan Ammunition Depot, and Jinhae Naval Base (Changwon).
Busan has five sites: Busan Area 55 Supply Depot (Dong-gu), Jangsan Site (Haeundae-gu), Busan Pier 8 and U.S. Naval Forces Korea (Nam-gu), and Gimhae War Reserve Materiel Storage (Gangseo-gu).
Gwangju and Jeollabuk-do have one and two sites, respectively: Gwangju Airfield in Gwangju, and the Petroleum Pipeline Terminal and Kunsan Air Base in Gunsan.
