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The Evolving Role of US Forces in Korea

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The Evolving Role of US Forces in Korea
U.S. soldiers from the 2nd Infantry Division Stryker Battalion prepare for a live fire exercise in Pocheon, South Korea, on March 22, 2023. Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images
Jihoon Yu
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Commentary

The presence of U.S. Forces in Korea (USFK) has long served as a cornerstone of the Republic of Korea–United States (ROK-U.S.) alliance, functioning as both a deterrent against North Korean aggression and a symbol of the U.S. commitment to security on the Korean Peninsula. However, amid intensifying strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific and shifting priorities within Washington, the traditional role of USFK is being redefined. This evolution carries profound implications—not only for the future structure of the alliance, but also for deterrence, regional stability, and South Korea’s own defense posture.

Jihoon Yu
Jihoon Yu
Author
Jihoon Yu is a research fellow and the director of external cooperation at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses. Jihoon was the member of Task Force for South Korea’s light aircraft carrier project and Jangbogo-III submarine project. He is the main author of the ROK Navy’s “Navy Vision 2045.” His area of expertise includes the ROK-U.S. alliance, the ROK-Europe security cooperation, inter-Korean relations, national security, maritime security, and maritime strategy. He earned his M.A. in National Security Affairs from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and Ph.D. in Political Science from Syracuse University.