On Wednesday, 601 civic organizations representing various sectors including religious, labor, and human rights groups held a press conference at the steps of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to protest the potential deployment of South Korean forces to the Strait of Hormuz.
The coalition urged the government to resist U.S. pressure and reject the deployment request.
Speakers at the event argued that sending naval vessels to the Strait of Hormuz would not be a protective measure for ships or citizens, but rather a clear act of joining an ongoing conflict. They warned that the moment South Korean military assets are deployed to the volatile region, the nation would effectively become a belligerent party in the conflict.
The organizations emphasized that following U.S. demands for deployment would jeopardize South Korea’s economy, security, and peace. They strongly opposed sacrificing young service members in what they termed an unjust invasion war.
The protesters also directed criticism at the Donald Trump administration, calling for an end to what they described as invasion wars. They suggested that the U.S. push for deployment was driven by President Trump’s need for a political win ahead of midterm elections, rather than genuine security concerns. The groups demanded an immediate halt to military interventions instead of pressuring allies for support in the Hormuz operation.
Following the press conference, demonstrators marched from the U.S. Embassy to the Blue House, carrying placards and banners with slogans such as “No deployment to America’s invasion war” and “Stop the invasion, stop the war.”