US Troop Movements in Korea are not a Challenge — They’re an Opportunity
In-bum Chun
The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. Department of Defense is reviewing the possible redeployment of approximately 4,500 American troops currently stationed in South Korea. Predictably, the headline sparked immediate concern in Seoul. Some interpreted it as a sign of U.S. disengagement or a political maneuver to pressure South Korea on defense cost-sharing — echoes of past controversies during the Trump administration.
But this time, the context is different and the logic is strategic, not transactional. Instead of reacting with alarm, South Korea should see this development as a signal to evolve its approach to alliance management. A flexible, regionally integrated U.S. force posture centered on the Korean Peninsula is not a liability — it’s a critical asset. If anything, this is an opportunity to modernize the alliance and deepen Seoul’s role in preserving regional stability.
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