South Korea to Dispatch 340-350 Troops to Afghanistan in 2010

South Korean officials agreed to propose a motion to dispatch 340-350 troops to Afghanistan in mid-2010 as part of a reconstruction protection mission. This decision comes after the Obama administration renewed its strategy in Afghanistan by sending 30,000 additional troops. South Korea's support program for Afghanistan includes the dispatch of troops and a civilian medical team, which currently has 25 members at a U.S. base in Afghanistan. However, the plan faces uncertainty regarding approval from the National Assembly, with opposition parties firmly opposing the dispatch of troops to Afghanistan.

Key Takeaways:

• South Korea plans to dispatch 340-350 troops to Afghanistan in mid-2010 for a two-and-a-half-year mission.
• The government and the ruling Grand National Party agreed to present a motion to the National Assembly for approval.
• The decision was made in response to the Obama administration's renewed strategy for Afghanistan, which includes sending 30,000 additional troops.
• South Korea currently has a 25-member civilian medical team at a U.S. base in Afghanistan.
• Opposition parties, led by the main opposition Democratic Party, firmly oppose the dispatch of troops to Afghanistan.
• South Korea withdrew more than 200 military medics and engineers from Afghanistan in 2007 after a kidnapping incident involving South Korean Christian missionaries.

Statistics:

• 340-350: The estimated number of South Korean troops to be dispatched to Afghanistan in mid-2010.
• 30,000: The number of additional troops sent to Afghanistan by the Obama administration as part of its renewed strategy.
• 25: The number of members in the current South Korean civilian medical team at a U.S. base in Afghanistan.
• 2007: The year South Korea withdrew more than 200 military medics and engineers from Afghanistan after a kidnapping incident.

Sources:

• Xinhua News Agency (Dec 02, 2009)
• Yonhap News Agency (cited in Xinhua News Agency)
• The Foreign Ministry of South Korea (statement by Moon Tae-young, Foreign Ministry Spokesman)