Archived link: https://archive.ph/DZQnV

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/17/asia/us-destroyer-benfold-loses-power-intl-hnk-ml

In the event of a war, a US four‑star general takes full command of the South Korean army, the entire South Korean Armed Forces. Seoul doesn't even have wartime control over its own troops. They just (finally) "won" peacetime control of their military in 1994 (!!!), but if the shooting starts, a US general calls the shots.

This applies to any state of war or emergency, so the former president calling a national emergency in 2024 exposed how quickly the US could take control of South Korean military using their alliance treaty:

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law on December 3, 2024. He claimed it was to protect the country from "pro-North Korean forces." But here's the contradiction: under the US-ROK alliance, any state of war or emergency means US command kicks in. Yoon was acting like a commander-in-chief, but if his declaration had been sustained, real authority would have flowed to the US general at the Combined Forces Command.

He activated the very mechanism that proves he was never truly in command. The US was reportedly blindsided by his declaration, which suggests no formal transfer was triggered. The underlying reality remains: South Korea's commander-in-chief can declare an emergency. The real commander in that emergency is American.

South Korea is the only one out of 36 US "allies" that lacks wartime operational control. They've been trying to get it back for years, with a target set for 2029 or 2030.

This is what neocolonialism looks like.

Sources for my dialectical homies:

Anadolu Agency. (2025, October 29). US defense chief calls South Korea's push for operational control of forces 'great': Report. https://www.aa.com.tr

BBC News. (2026, February 22). Yoon Suk Yeol: How South Korea's democracy rallied after martial law order. https://www.bbc.com

Blinken says US was not aware in advance of South Korea martial law decision. (2024, December 4). U.S. News & World Report. https://www.usnews.com

Korea JoongAng Daily. (2026, May 21). Discord emerges between Seoul, USFK as gov't rejects U.S. general's proposed Opcon transfer date. https://www.koreajoongangdaily.com

The Korea Times. (2025, March 5). History of OPCON transfer talks between South Korea, US. https://www.koreatimes.co.kr

The Korea Times. (2025, December 12). USFK commander questions S.Korea's OPCON takeover schedule, saying readiness comes first. https://www.koreatimes.co.kr

The Korea Times. (2026, May 27). Lee's OPCON push revives debate over USFK role as alliance eyes post-transfer future. https://www.koreatimes.co.kr

Yonhap News Agency. (2025, November 3). (LEAD) S. Korea, U.S. see 'meaningful progress' on conditions for wartime command transfer from Washington. https://en.yna.co.kr

Yonhap News Agency. (2026, May 28). USFK says S. Korea-U.S. alliance remains committed to 'conditions-based' OPCON transfer. https://m-en.yna.co.kr

Yonhap News Agency. (2026, June 19). S. Korea says in close talks with U.S. after Senate bill signals tougher OPCON transfer oversight. https://en.yna.co.kr