USFK denies claim of possible deployment under Korean martial law
United States Forces Korea on Tuesday dismissed online claims suggesting that US troops stationed in South Korea could be mobilized if Seoul were to declare martial law, labeling such assertions as "false information."
The denial came in response to a post made Sunday on social media platform X, where a user wrote in Korean: "If spies or China are related to the wildfires, it could immediately lead to DEFCON, martial law and US military deployment," refering to local news reports covering a US message of condolence for victims of massive wildfires in North Gyeongsang Province.
On Tuesday, the USFK replied directly to the post, stating, "Don't spread incorrect information."
In response, the original user questioned whether the USFK had understood the post in Korean, claiming it was merely a hypothetical scenario.
The USFK replied that it had understood the content and cautioned that "opinions create a public perception of fact." It explained that it replied to the post because it had been tagged.
The US military also clarified that its troops cannot be mobilized under a martial law declaration by the South Korean government. It further added that no such deployment took place on the night of Dec. 3, 2024, when now-suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law.
The USFK's direct engagement with a civilian user marked a rare moment of public response. Both the original post and the USFK's reply have since been deleted.
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