On October 18, 36 civic groups in the Jeonbuk region staged a press conference outside the Jeonbuk Provincial Office, urging the South Korean government to categorically refuse the U.S. request for troop deployment to the Strait of Hormuz. They denounced the U.S. and Israeli actions against Iran as violations of international law and unjustified acts of aggression, emphasizing that South Korea should not participate in such military actions. The groups specifically cautioned that joining the deployment would implicate South Korea in U.S. military operations, undermining the country's stance on peace and neutrality.

The groups voiced concerns over the recent demands from the U.S. for naval deployments from South Korea and other countries under the pretense of protecting oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz. They argued that participating in these deployments could potentially contravene South Korea's constitutional commitment to peace. They cited Article 5 of the South Korean Constitution, which stipulates efforts for maintaining international peace and the denial of aggressive wars, outlining that the military's mission should focus on national security and territorial defense instead.

Criticism also arose regarding suggestions that the operation area of the Cheonghae Unit, currently deployed in the waters off Somalia, be expanded to include the Strait of Hormuz. The civic groups contended that this would violate the original purpose of the National Assembly's consent for their deployment. They underscored that an expansion of the operational area or mission scope without legislative approval would be improper. Additionally, they warned that sending troops to the Strait of Hormuz could endanger not only South Korean soldiers but also citizens residing in the Middle East, demanding the government's rejection of U.S. troop deployment pressure and an end to the Iran invasion by Israel and the U.S. They pledged to continue solidarity actions until the invasion ceases.