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Jeong Jeom-sik, floor leader of the People Power Party, speaks during a floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 4th. / Yonhap

Jeong Jeom-sik, floor leader of the People Power Party, sharply criticized the government's review of troop deployment to the Strait of Hormuz on the 4th, stating that it looks like bowing to U.S. pressure. He urged the government to provide a transparent explanation, emphasizing that any troop deployment requires the consent of the National Assembly.

Floor Leader Jeong stated via Facebook that day, "For our government to begin reviewing deployment belatedly after having already lost the trust of the U.S. is a clear policy blunder."

"The presidential office says it is 'in the review stage and nothing has been decided,' but I suspect they are merely testing the waters regarding public opinion and the opposition's reaction," Floor Leader Jeong said, adding, "Rather than testing the opposition, the government should appear before the National Assembly and transparently disclose the reality of the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and South Korea-U.S. relations."

He went on to stress, "Consent from the National Assembly is essential for troop deployment," adding, "Sending our service members overseas is not a matter to be decided lightly, and it requires careful consideration."

In particular, Floor Leader Jeong claimed that the government lost the initiative in its relations with the U.S. during its handling of the Strait of Hormuz deployment issue. "Initially, the government and the ruling party took a negative stance on troop deployment to the Strait of Hormuz," he said, adding, "However, U.S. President Donald Trump recently revealed on multiple occasions that South Korea turned down requests to help with the Iran situation, even venting overt frustration by remarking, 'I will remember this.'"

He also expressed concern, stating, "Currently, multiple pressing issues causing friction in the South Korea-U.S. alliance are piling up between the two nations, including not only the deployment to the Strait of Hormuz, but also the unilateral scaling back of South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises, the Coupang fallout, the so-called 'gag law,' and delays in implementing investments in the U.S."

Floor Leader Jeong said, "The government must now transparently disclose the current standing of the South Korea-U.S. alliance. The public currently feels uneasy about the unusual strain in the alliance," adding, "The people have a right to know what the issues are between the two countries and what discussions are taking place."

"Our party has requested an emergency inquiry at the National Assembly's National Defense Committee," he added, urging, "We call on the government to transparently explain to the National Assembly the background and practical benefits behind reviewing a troop deployment to the Strait of Hormuz."

                                                                                                          Kim Dong-wook