OPCON Transfer
Military advised to establish joint operations command for wartime control transfer
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A special advisory committee on military reform has recommended establishing a joint operations command to prepare for the handover of wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington. The proposal aims to achieve the conditions-based transfer within President Lee Jae Myung's five-year term ending in 2030. The defense ministry plans to review and incorporate the committee's details into its reform policy.
South Korea and the United States are considering outlining a timeline for Washington's transition of wartime operational control (OPCON) to Seoul in their annual defense ministerial talks this year. The year 2028 is widely seen as a likely target, aligning with President Lee Jae Myung's push for a conditions-based handover within his term ending in 2030.
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U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth positively assessed South Korea's push to retake wartime operational control from the United States, calling it a 'great' endeavor. He depicted South Korea as a 'combat credible partner' during a press meeting on a plane en route to Malaysia. The remarks underscore the U.S. emphasis on allies assuming greater security responsibilities.