Seoul weighs expanding Cheonghae Unit operations toward Strait of Hormuz

The South Korean government is considering expanding the Cheonghae Unit’s operating area from the Gulf of Aden to the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz as it seeks to extend the unit’s deployment. It is also reviewing whether to add a maritime patrol aircraft, but no decision has been made. The current parliamentary authorization expires Dec. 31, and the government has not determined whether to seek explicit approval for a wider mission.

The Cheonghae Unit has operated off Somalia since 2009 to escort commercial vessels and protect shipping routes.

The unit currently consists of a 4,400-ton destroyer, a helicopter, up to three rigid-hull inflatable boats and no more than 320 personnel.

One proposal would deploy a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to expand surveillance coverage.

President Lee Jae Myung said Korea would not send troops or military assets to participate in the conflict with Iran, while considering a stronger role for protecting Korean vessels, oil shipments and citizens.

In 2020, Seoul expanded the unit’s operations toward the Strait of Hormuz under a provision allowing missions in other designated waters when necessary to protect Korean nationals.

Published Oct 16, 2026 11:04 am KST

The ROK Navy's 49th Cheonghae Unit, aboard the 4,400-ton destroyer ROKS Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin (DDH-II), departs Busan Naval Base for the Gulf of Aden during a farewell ceremony, Oct. 4. Courtesy of the ROK Navy

Seoul is considering expanding the operating area of its Cheonghae anti-piracy unit from the Gulf of Aden to the Gulf of Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz, as it prepares to seek parliamentary approval to extend the unit’s deployment.

The government is also reviewing a proposal to add a maritime patrol aircraft to the unit, according to local media reports. No decision has been made on either proposal.

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul told lawmakers Thursday the ministry was reviewing various options concerning the unit’s mission and deployment extension. The current parliamentary authorization expires Dec. 31.

The Cheonghae Unit, deployed off Somalia since 2009, escorts commercial vessels and helps protect shipping routes. Its current deployment consists of 4,400-ton destroyer, a helicopter, up to three rigid-hull inflatable boats and no more than 320 personnel.

One option under consideration is deploying a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to expand surveillance coverage.

The review comes after Washington requested military contributions from allies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz amid the conflict with Iran.

President Lee Jae Myung said a news conference last month that Korea would not sent troops or military assets to take part in the war. He said, however, that the government was considering strengthening the Cheonghae Unit’s role in protecting Korean vessels, oil shipments and citizens.

The defense ministry has maintained that any expansion would support the unit’s existing anti-piracy and shipping protection duties, rather than constitute a response to the U.S. deployment request.

The current parliamentary mandate identifies the Gulf of Aden as the unit’s operating area but also allows missions in other designated waters when necessary to protect Korean nationals.

In 2020, Seoul used that provision to expand the unit’s operations toward the Strait of Hormuz without seeking fresh parliamentary approval. It remains unclear whether the government would rely on the same provision this time or seek explicit authorization for a wider operating area.

韩国政府正考虑将清海部队的行动区域从亚丁湾扩大到霍尔木兹海峡附近的阿曼湾，以延长该部队的部署期限。政府也在考虑是否增派一架海上巡逻机，但尚未做出决定。目前国会的授权将于12月31日到期，政府尚未决定是否就扩大任务范围寻求国会的明确批准。

自 2009 年以来，清海部队一直在索马里附近海域执行护航任务，保护商船和航运路线。

该部队目前由一艘 4400 吨的驱逐舰、一架直升机、最多三艘硬壳充气艇和不超过 320 名人员组成。

其中一项提议是部署一架 P-8A 海神海上巡逻机来扩大监视范围。

李在明总统表示，韩国不会派遣军队或军事资产参与与伊朗的冲突，但会考虑在保护韩国船只、石油运输和公民方面发挥更强有力的作用。

2020 年，首尔根据一项规定，在必要时允许在其他指定水域执行任务以保护韩国国民，从而将该部队的行动范围扩大到霍尔木兹海峡。

发布于2026年10月16日上午11:04（韩国标准时间）

10月4日，韩国海军第49青海分队乘坐4400吨级驱逐舰“忠武公李舜臣”号（DDH-II）在釜山海军基地举行告别仪式，启程前往亚丁湾。图片由韩国海军提供。

首尔正考虑将其清海反海盗部队的行动区域从亚丁湾扩大到霍尔木兹海峡附近的阿曼湾，并准备寻求国会批准以延长该部队的部署期限。

据当地媒体报道，政府还在考虑一项为该部队增设海上巡逻机的提案。目前，这两项提案均未做出决定。

国防部长康信哲周四告诉国会议员，国防部正在审查有关该部队任务和部署延期的各种方案。目前的国会授权将于12月31日到期。

自2009年以来一直部署在索马里附近海域的青海舰队负责护航商船并协助保护航运路线。其目前部署包括一艘4400吨级的驱逐舰、一架直升机、至多三艘硬壳充气艇以及不超过320名人员。

正在考虑的方案之一是部署 P-8A 海神海上巡逻机以扩大监视范围。

此次审查是在华盛顿要求盟友提供军事援助以帮助确保霍尔木兹海峡安全，以应对与伊朗的冲突之后进行的。

李在明总统上个月在新闻发布会上表示，韩国不会派遣军队或军事装备参与战争。但他同时表示，政府正在考虑加强清海部队在保护韩国船只、石油运输和公民方面的作用。

国防部一直坚持认为，任何扩编都将支持该部队现有的反海盗和航运保护职责，而不是对美国部署请求的回应。

目前的议会授权将亚丁湾确定为该部队的行动区域，但也允许在必要时在其他指定水域执行任务，以保护韩国国民。

2020年，首尔曾利用该条款将该部队的行动范围扩大至霍尔木兹海峡，而无需再次获得国会批准。目前尚不清楚政府此次是否会援引同一条款，还是会寻求明确授权以扩大行动区域。