Citizen groups in Gyeongnam, South Korea, have voiced strong opposition to U.S. President Donald Trump's recent request for South Korean troops to participate in operations related to conflict in the Middle East. The Gyeongnam Peace Conference, consisting of 115 civil society organizations, held a rally stating that any deployment would be a reckless gamble that could put South Korean youth in danger. They claim that such military involvement is a 'suicide mission' and directly contradicts the Korean constitution's commitment to peace and the rejection of aggressive wars.

During the rally, various organizations, including women's groups, echoed these concerns, highlighting the human cost of war, particularly to vulnerable populations like women and children. Their statements stress that war cannot be justified by any means. Leaders of these groups called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and emphasized the importance of preserving peace instead of succumbing to external pressures to engage in military conflict.

The speakers at the rally, including local union representatives, condemned the U.S. and Israel's actions against Iran as illegal and warned against any form of militarization that may drag South Korea into conflict. They firmly rejected the notion of being drawn into a war and reaffirmed their commitment to advocating for peace, reflecting a broader sentiment of anti-war activism within civil society in South Korea.