Protesters urge South Korea to stay out of Iran war

South Korean protesters gathered outside the US embassy in Seoul on Wednesday to express their opposition to their government's potential involvement in the ongoing war in the Middle East. The demonstrators, numbering around 60, held signs that read "Do not join a war of aggression" and chanted "We cannot send our young people into a sea of death!"

They urged their leaders to refrain from sending South Korean troops to the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a waterway crucial to global oil supplies. US President Donald Trump has urged South Korea to assist in the conflict, which Iran has strongly opposed. The protesters, representing various civic groups, argued that any deployment by South Korean troops would be seen as direct support for an illegal war, citing numerous violations of international law by the US, including the bombing of an elementary school and energy infrastructure.

While South Korea has been considering sending "contributions" to US security efforts in the region, provided its own military readiness remains intact, the protesters firmly believe that sending troops to an illegal war is unacceptable.