Seoul: South Korea will seek to reclaim wartime operational control (OPCON) of its military from the United States during President Lee Jae Myung's administration, as reported by the Korea Times.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Lee administration aims to reinstate wartime control within its tenure, based on a five-year policy roadmap announced by the State Affairs Planning Committee. This blueprint, however, is not yet the final policy document and will be subject to reviews before potential adoption by Lee's Cabinet.
President Lee was elected in a snap presidential election in June following the ousting of his predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol, who faced removal after a failed martial law imposition attempt last December. South Korea, a longstanding military ally of the US, hosts over 28,500 American soldiers. Currently, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff manage peacetime OPCON, while the US-led Combined Forces Command holds control during wartime.
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back indicated during his parliamentary confirmation that regaining wartime operational control will necessitate "in-depth conversations" with the US. The roadmap also outlines the Lee administration's pledge to normalize relations with North Korea, emphasizing reconciliation and cooperation.
The State Affairs Planning Committee stated that by institutionalizing peace, the government aims to transform the "Korean Peninsula risk" into a "Korean Peninsula premium." President Lee has already initiated measures such as banning anti-Pyongyang leaflets and dismantling propaganda broadcasts, which North Korea reciprocated by ceasing its own broadcasts and removing loudspeakers along the border.
Seoul is also focusing on pragmatic diplomacy to elevate South Korea to a 'G7 plus' diplomatic power and build a military capable of countering North Korea's threats. In pursuit of these goals, Lee is scheduled to visit Japan next week for a summit with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, followed by a maiden summit with US President Donald Trump.
The Lee administration's blueprint requires adjustments in 951 laws and ordinances and an estimated budget of $152 billion by 2030 to achieve its objectives.