The clarification came after reports that the military was reviewing plans to extend the unit's operational area from the Gulf of Aden to the Gulf of Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz, and potentially deploy additional surveillance aircraft.
"Piracy activity in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia has increased sharply compared with previous years, and security conditions in the region have deteriorated," an official from the Ministry of National Defense's spokesperson's office told AJP.
"The Cheonghae Unit is currently carrying out missions specified in its deployment authorization in the Gulf of Aden, with its mandate scheduled to expire on Dec. 31, 2026," the official said.
"The government is considering submitting a proposal to extend the Cheonghae Unit's deployment before the current authorization expires, but no specific details have been decided," the official added.
The Cheonghae Unit has operated in the Gulf of Aden since 2009, conducting anti-piracy missions and supporting the safe passage of commercial vessels, including South Korean ships.
Its current deployment consists of a 4,400-ton destroyer, a naval helicopter, up to three rigid-hull inflatable boats, and a contingent of up to 320 personnel.
The Gulf of Oman connects to the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important waterway for global energy shipments.
The possible expansion has raised questions over whether strengthening the Cheonghae Unit's mission could amount to an indirect deployment in response to Washington's earlier request for South Korean military support near Hormuz.
President Lee Jae Myung said during a Sept. 18 press conference that South Korea would not deploy troops to participate in or intervene in a war, while acknowledging that the government was considering ways to strengthen the Cheonghae Unit's existing activities.
Under the current parliamentary approval, the Cheonghae Unit operates mainly in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia but can also carry out missions in other waters when needed to protect South Korean nationals.
The government is considering seeking parliamentary approval to extend the Cheonghae Unit's deployment beyond Dec. 31, but has yet to finalize the details.
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