South Korea must do much more to support the U.S. and defend itself

Chun In-bum

The recent tariff agreement between South Korea and the United States was reached with much fanfare. For many Koreans, it brought relief — but also confusion. How could the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, once hailed as a symbol of enduring bilateral cooperation, be set aside so easily? That question reflects a deeper reality: Alliances, no matter how long-lived, are never immune to political winds or shifting national interests.

We must take this reality with maturity. The Korea-U.S. alliance, built on shared values and bloodshed during the Korean War, has endured for over seven decades. Yet today, the United States is a country under immense internal pressure. The American people — whom we admire and owe a deep debt of gratitude — are increasingly burdened by global responsibilities that many now believe are unfairly distributed. Exploited by adversaries and taken for granted by allies, Americans have had enough.

Social discontent is rising. Economic disparities are growing. Political polarization has paralyzed governance. Amid these challenges, Americans are questioning why they must continue to shoulder the lion’s share of global security burdens. Their frustration is valid. The United States has provided South Korea with decades of defense support, technological transfer and market access. All of this has enabled Korea to grow from a war-torn nation into a thriving democracy and global economic power.

Yet while South Korea has grown stronger, we have also become more dependent — especially in matters of national defense. It is no wonder that some in the United States have begun referring to us as a "free rider." Although I reject that term, we must be honest: South Korea has not done enough. We can — and must — do much more.

First, we must recognize that the era of unilateral American guarantees is coming to an end. The United States has made clear, time after time, that it expects its allies to assume greater responsibility for their own security. This is not a threat — it is a fact. The sooner we understand and internalize this message, the better prepared we will be for the future.

Second, we must act on this understanding by dramatically increasing our self-defense capabilities. This includes expanding conventional forces, hardening critical infrastructure, investing in cybersecurity and modernizing command and control systems. But above all, we must have an honest conversation about strategic deterrence.

South Korea needs a nuclear deterrent. This is not a call for provocation, but a recognition of reality. The North Korean regime has nuclear weapons and is continuously improving its delivery systems. China and Russia are expanding their own arsenals and growing increasingly assertive. The American nuclear umbrella — while still credible — faces political and logistical limitations in a rapidly changing world.

An indigenous South Korean nuclear capability, developed in close consultation with the United States, would not undermine our alliance. On the contrary, it would strengthen it. By taking more responsibility for regional deterrence, Korea would be helping relieve the disproportionate burden currently placed on American forces. We would be transforming from a dependent ally into a contributing partner.

Such a program must be pursued with transparency, responsibility and adherence to the highest safety and operational standards. The United States should assist us — not just in technology, but in combined planning, shaping doctrine and crisis management. Japan should also be a participant in this conversation, not only to foster regional transparency but also to explore solutions to our shared challenges, such as nuclear waste storage and regional security coordination.

This is not about nationalism. It is about alliance modernization. It is about deterrence. It is about survival.

South Korea must do much more to defend its homeland — not just in words.

Chun In-bum is the former commander of the Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command.