34 Ulsan Labor and Civic Groups: "Deploying Troops to a War of Aggression Violates Article 5 of the Constitution"

【Financial News Ulsan = Choi Su-sang】 As the United States intensifies its demand that South Korea deploy troops to the Strait of Hormuz, invoking the U.S.-ROK alliance and economic pressure, political parties and labor and civic groups in Ulsan have strongly criticized the government’s deployment plans.
The Labor Party, Justice Party, Rebuilding Korea Party, and Progressive Party’s Ulsan branches, the Ulsan Regional Headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Ulsan People’s Solidarity, Ulsan Women’s Society, and 26 other organizations—34 groups in total—formed the Ulsan Citizens’ Action. At a press conference held at the press center of Ulsan City Hall on the 15th, the coalition condemned the Trump administration’s coercion to deploy troops and strongly urged the Lee Jae-myung administration to firmly reject the demand.
The Ulsan Citizens’ Action assessed that South Korea is currently at a critical crossroads, where it could be drawn into the United States’ illegal war of aggression.
The coalition criticized the United States’ hegemonic conduct, saying that the illegal war of aggression against Iran launched by the United States and Israel on February 28 has continued for seven months, plunging the world into outrage and suffering, while the United States ignores calls from humanity to end the war and demands military support from its allies. It also pointed out that political motives lie behind the United States’ public pressure on South Korea. 
The Ulsan Citizens’ Action said, "The reason the United States is coercing troop deployment now is clear," adding, "President Trump urgently needs the 'political spoils' of international support ahead of the midterm elections in November." In other words, it argued that the U.S. administration is attempting to use the lives and safety of South Korean citizens as pawns for its domestic political interests.
The coalition also noted that the Trump administration has been using economic issues—including efforts to induce investment in the United States, threats of punitive tariffs, and its defense of Coupang—as well as the U.S.-ROK alliance as leverage for pressure. It warned, "Our people will never stand idly by in the face of the Trump administration’s unjust pressure and interference."
The Ulsan Citizens’ Action emphasized Article 5, Paragraph 1 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea: 'The Republic of Korea shall endeavor to maintain international peace and shall renounce all wars of aggression.' It argued that although the government may invoke the United Kingdom- and France-led international coalition and cite 'the safety of merchant vessels' or 'the protection of the people' as justifications, these are clearly a deception. The deployment of military assets to the Strait of Hormuz, where fighting is underway, would effectively constitute 'participation in the war' and make South Korea a belligerent state.
The coalition also stressed that the country must clearly remember the devastating consequences it experienced during the previous deployment to Iraq. It issued a grave warning that if the government abandons the lives and safety of its people—the highest priorities—and ultimately yields to U.S. pressure and proceeds with the deployment, the economy, security, and peace will be destroyed, while the administration will inevitably face an uncontrollable crisis and downfall.
The Ulsan Citizens’ Action stated, "We cannot hand over our young people as victims of an unjust war of aggression," adding, "Through firm solidarity and powerful resistance, we will stop the deployment to the Strait of Hormuz at all costs."  


[email protected] Choi Su-sang Reporter