Lee Jae-myung on OPCON Transfer: A Nation Must Protect Itself
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung emphasized self-reliance in national defense during the process of wartime operational control (OPCON) transfer from the US, citing Korea's high global military ranking.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 13:35
- 🔍 Collected: April 28, 2026 at 14:01 (26 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 14:32 (30 min after Collected)
South Korea and the US are currently in the process of transferring wartime operational control (OPCON), although the exact timeline remains undecided. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung stated today that a nation should naturally be protected by itself, asking, 'Why depend on others?' He emphasized that the military possesses sufficient capability and there is no need for worry.
The OPCON transfer process is ongoing, with the US proposing completion in 2029 and South Korea in 2028. Defense leaders from both nations are expected to make a final decision in October. According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee presided over a cabinet meeting at the Blue House today, stating: 'A nation should be protected by itself. Why rely on others? We can definitely do it.' He noted that some individuals seem anxious about military security recently for various reasons.
Lee highlighted that even without considering US forces in Korea, South Korea's military strength ranks 5th in the world. The annual defense expenditure is 1.4 times North Korea's full GDP, and the military is well-trained with high morale. 'Our economic strength is incomparable [to North Korea], and our defense industry exports have jumped to 4th in the world,' he added. Defense Minister An Kyu-back responded that while some forces tend to incite such anxiety, most citizens do not share that perception. Lee instructed that these objective facts should be explained more to the public to ensure confidence in self-defense.
The OPCON transfer process is ongoing, with the US proposing completion in 2029 and South Korea in 2028. Defense leaders from both nations are expected to make a final decision in October. According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee presided over a cabinet meeting at the Blue House today, stating: 'A nation should be protected by itself. Why rely on others? We can definitely do it.' He noted that some individuals seem anxious about military security recently for various reasons.
Lee highlighted that even without considering US forces in Korea, South Korea's military strength ranks 5th in the world. The annual defense expenditure is 1.4 times North Korea's full GDP, and the military is well-trained with high morale. 'Our economic strength is incomparable [to North Korea], and our defense industry exports have jumped to 4th in the world,' he added. Defense Minister An Kyu-back responded that while some forces tend to incite such anxiety, most citizens do not share that perception. Lee instructed that these objective facts should be explained more to the public to ensure confidence in self-defense.