Activists in Seoul took to the streets on March 16 to protest demands by Donald Trump for South Korea to deploy military assets to the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions escalate in the Middle East.
South Korean Buddhist monks perform full bows as they march towards the US embassy in Seoul during a protest against the war on Iran
📸 Jung Yeon-je pic.twitter.com/1r9ZlyR5rB
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) March 17, 2026
Demonstrators gathered outside the US embassy, denouncing what they described as pressure on South Korea to join a widening war and warning against entanglement in a conflict driven by US strategic interests. Protesters carried placards and chanted slogans opposing military deployment, reflecting growing domestic opposition to involvement in the crisis.
The protests come after Trump called on several allied countries—including South Korea, Japan, and European powers—to send warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy chokepoint.
The demand follows a dramatic escalation in the region, where ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran has effectively disrupted shipping through the strait, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.
Despite Trump’s insistence that allies should “protect their own territory,” many countries have hesitated or refused to commit military support, exposing fractures in US-led alliances.
In Korea, the proposal has sparked intense political debate and public concern. Analysts have described the situation as a “Catch-22,” with Seoul caught between pressure from Washington and the risk of damaging its economic and diplomatic ties with Middle Eastern countries, including Iran.
Any deployment would require approval from South Korea’s National Assembly, and government officials have signaled caution, emphasizing the need to adhere to legal and constitutional procedures.
Activists argue that sending troops would not only endanger Korean lives but also align the country with a conflict it did not initiate.
