president-OPCON transfer

▲ President Lee Jae Myung (seated, R) speaks to reporters at Chunchugwan, the presidential press center, in the Cheong Wa Dae compound on Oct. 19, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Oct. 19 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung reiterated Monday that wartime operational control (OPCON) of South Korean troops, currently held by the United States, should be transferred to Seoul at an early date.

"I think having the OPCON entrusted to another country and relying on it cannot be left as it is," the president said during a meeting with reporters marking his 500th day in office, which fell on Friday.

"Speaking frankly, OPCON must be returned at an early date. (We) are sufficiently capable of doing so, and (related) talks between South Korea and the U.S. are basically going well in that direction."

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