South Koreans protest against arms aid to Ukraine

(CLO) South Korean people still strongly oppose the direct supply of weapons to Ukraine, despite calls from Kiev and its allies.

On November 27, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and his delegation met with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul, amid reports that the visit was aimed at soliciting arms support.

Despite a snowstorm, many South Koreans protested against arms aid to Ukraine in Seoul, South Korea, on November 27, 2024. Photo: AP

According to the South Korean Presidential Office, the two sides exchanged information about North Korea's troop deployment to Russia, as well as technology and weapons transfers between the two countries.

The Ukrainian delegation also worked with national security adviser Shin Won-sik and Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun to discuss cooperation opportunities between Seoul and Kiev.

However, outside President Yoon's office, a group of protesters held up a protest banner: "Do not provide weapons to Ukraine."

According to a Gallup Korea survey in October, although 82% of South Koreans see military ties between North Korea and Russia as a threat, the same percentage oppose sending military aid, including weapons, to Ukraine.

President Yoon is now facing record low approval ratings due to domestic scandals, eroding his authority to pursue bolder foreign policies.

“South Korea will gain little benefit from providing military aid without domestic support, and relations with the next US administration (of Donald Trump) are at risk of deteriorating,” said Yang Uk, a senior fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies.

Meanwhile, the opposition Democratic Party (DP), which holds a majority in the South Korean National Assembly after a landslide victory in the April election, has criticized the government for not rejecting the possibility of providing weapons. The DP calls for any decision regarding military aid to be approved by the National Assembly.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko warned that relations between Seoul and Moscow would be "completely destroyed" if South Korea supplied weapons to Ukraine.

While South Korea has not provided lethal weapons, it has provided non-military equipment such as mine-clearing vehicles and body armor. However, the country has not ruled out providing weapons in the future, especially after reports that North Korea has sent thousands of troops to support Russia.

Hong Hanh (according to CNA, Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nguoi-dan-han-quoc-bieu-tinh-phan-doi-vien-tro-vu-khi-cho-ukraine-post323254.html