South Korea has announced plans to review its phased contributions to the United States-led 'Project Freedom', an initiative aimed at ensuring safe passage for commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, a region critical for global oil transport. South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back made the announcement following discussions with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, emphasizing Seoul's commitment to participating as a responsible member of the international community. Potential contributions from South Korea could include declarations of support, personnel deployment, intelligence sharing, and military assets, although direct military deployment has not been discussed. Ahn reiterated South Korea's position on the early transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) and confirmed that there were no talks about reducing the US troop presence in South Korea. Meanwhile, President Trump mentioned the possibility of reviving 'Project Freedom' as 'Project Freedom plus' if a deal with Iran is not reached, indicating a broader strategy to enhance maritime security in the region.