How South Korea Can Bring Iron to the Strait of Hormuz

The United States has begun redeploying critical missile defense assets like THAAD from South Korea to the Middle East, creating strain within the alliance due to a lack of genuine consultation. This unilateral move undermines the trust built after South Korea bore significant economic and political costs to host the systems. As the U.S. now requests South Korean naval support in the Strait of Hormuz, the author proposes an alternative solution. South Korea should leverage its advanced defense industry to provide defensive hardware, such as missile systems, to protect commercial shipping, thereby contributing to global security without overextending its own forces.