The potential deployment of South Korea's Cheonghae Unit to the Hormuz Strait has sparked concerns, particularly since President Donald Trump has requested that the unit, which has been operating in the Gulf of Aden against Somali piracy, be sent to the strait. Military experts note that while the Cheonghae Unit has successfully conducted anti-piracy operations in Aden, the operational environments and threats encountered in the Hormuz Strait, including mines, drones, missiles, and submarines, pose significant challenges that the unit is not equipped to handle. These differences necessitate a cautious approach to such a deployment.

The Cheonghae Unit was established in 2009 with a primary focus on protecting commercial vessels from piracy in the Somali waters, leading to their formal designation as the 'Somali Waters Escort Force.' Their operations involve inspecting suspicious vessels and rescuing South Korean ships and crew from piracy. Currently, the unit comprises approximately 260 personnel on the destroyer Dae Jo Yeong (DDH-977), which features weapons designed for air defense. However, these capabilities are insufficient against the broader spectrum of military threats present in the Hormuz Strait, including various forms of Iranian military assets.

Among the main concerns is the Cheonghae Unit's lack of mine countermeasures, which are crucial for navigating the mine-laden waters of the Strait. Their operational helicopters are primarily designed for anti-submarine warfare and are not equipped for complex threats posed by Iranian missiles and drones. The deployment raises broader implications for South Korea's involvement in international maritime security, as it illustrates the risks associated with engaging in regions where the nature of conflict significantly differs from previous missions, highlighting the need for strategic reassessment and adequate preparation before any potential deployment.