South Korea and the U.S. to Hold 4th 'Defense Cost-Sharing' Talks in Seoul Starting Tomorrow

Han "Sharing at a Reasonable Level"
US "Necessity of Maintaining Defense Posture"

Starting from the 25th, the 4th defense cost-sharing talks will begin in Seoul to determine the portion of the cost for the stationing of U.S. Forces Korea that South Korea will bear over three days.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 24th, South Korea and the U.S. will hold the 4th meeting for the conclusion of the 12th Special Measures Agreement (SMA) on defense cost-sharing in Seoul from the 25th to the 27th. Lee Tae-woo, the South Korean chief negotiator for defense cost-sharing from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Linda Specht, Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of State, will serve as the chief representatives for their respective sides.

Lee Tae-woo, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Representative for Defense Cost-Sharing Negotiations Photo by Yonhap News

Previously, South Korea and the U.S. held the 1st to 3rd meetings on April 23-25 in Honolulu, Hawaii, May 21-23 in Seoul, and June 10-12 in Washington D.C., respectively. South Korea has advocated for a "reasonable level of contribution," while the U.S. has emphasized the "necessity of contribution to maintain defense posture."

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "The government plans to proceed with consultations under the position that South Korea’s defense cost-sharing should be at a reasonable level to ensure stable conditions for the stationing of U.S. Forces Korea and to strengthen the combined defense posture between South Korea and the U.S."

The SMA is an agreement that stipulates the amount South Korea will bear for the costs of stationing U.S. Forces Korea. The 11th SMA, concluded in 2021, is valid until the end of 2025. According to the 11th SMA, the defense cost-sharing amount for 2021 was 1.1833 trillion won, which was a 13.9% increase from the previous year, and it was agreed to increase the amount annually over the next four years reflecting the defense budget growth rate.

The results of the 12th SMA negotiations will be applied starting in 2026.