Seoul: As Seoul accelerates wartime control transfer while cutting joint drills, questions are growing over military readiness and trust within the Korea-U.S. alliance. The government is pushing forward with the transfer of wartime operational control (Opcon), even as it reduces the scale of joint Korea-U.S. exercises designed to support this transition.
According to Yonhap News Agency, during this year's Ulchi Freedom Shield, the allies plan to conduct 14 battalion-level or larger field training exercises, a reduction from 17 last year. Notably, the exercise will not feature a Korean four-star general as commander of the future Combined Forces Command. This reduction of key drills, which are essential for testing combined readiness and enhancing combat capabilities, appears contradictory to the goals of the Opcon transfer.
A significant issue is the differing views between Seoul and Washington concerning the full operational capability (FOC) assessment of the future Combined Forces Command, a critical step towards the Opcon transfer. Korea reportedly sought to include language on conducting the FOC assessment in the allies' joint Ulchi Freedom Shield statement. However, the United States objected due to the absence of specific assessment items.
The Korean government aims to complete FOC verification at this year's Security Consultative Meeting and establish a target year for the transfer. However, the joint statement only reaffirmed ongoing preparations for a conditions-based transition. This indicates that Washington is hesitant to adopt Seoul's push for a deadline, highlighting the importance of meeting military capabilities and necessary conditions over adhering to a predetermined timeline.
For Korea to assume leadership of the future Combined Forces Command, its ability to command and control U.S. forces must be thoroughly verified, and practical experience must be accumulated. This process requires building sufficient trust between the two militaries and governments.
Recent polling adds to the complexity of the situation. A JoongAng Ilbo-East Asia Institute survey revealed that distrust of the United States, at 46.4 percent, has surpassed trust, at 45.4 percent, for the first time. This shift is attributed to fatigue over tariffs and defense-cost pressure from the Trump administration. Nevertheless, a majority, 62.3 percent, believe the Korea-U.S. alliance should be maintained or strengthened, and 66.2 percent support trilateral security cooperation with Japan.
The Korean government must accurately interpret this sentiment. It should not weaken the alliance due to changes in Washington nor simply concede to U.S. demands. Instead, it should focus on bolstering the Korea-U.S. alliance on a solid foundation. Building strong mutual trust within the alliance is crucial for a successful Opcon transfer.