South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-baek stated on June 14th that the country plans to submit a specific target year for reclaiming wartime operational control to the South Korean and US presidents by the end of the year. The two sides will discuss this at the November security meeting. South Korea hopes to reclaim control as early as 2027, while the US believes 2029 is more feasible. President Lee Jae-myung insists on completing the transfer before the end of his term in 2030.

Defense Autonomy: The Lee Jae-myung administration has prioritized the reclaiming of operational control, advocating for independent responses to security threats. South Korea’s early departure from the recent US-Japan-South Korea defense ministers’ meeting is interpreted as a strengthening of its autonomous stance.

Historical Background: South Korea transferred operational control to the United Nations Command in 1953. In 1994, it only reclaimed peacetime operational control; wartime operational control remains with the ROK-US Combined Forces Command (commanded by a US military general).