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In November 2024, South Korea and the United States signed a new defense cost-sharing agreement, which covers the period from 2026 to 2030. Both sides agreed to increase South Korea's payment to **** trillion South Korean won starting in 2026, up *** percent from *** trillion won in 2025. Considering the inflation rate, South Korea's contribution is expected to increase significantly in the coming years, with a predicted rise to approximately **** trillion South Korean won by 2030.

Historical context of the South Korea-U.S. alliance

The South Korea-U.S. alliance was forged during the Korean War, which began in June 1950 with North Korean troops invading South Korea. It ended with an armistice in July 1953. The conflict resulted in about *** million military casualties, including roughly ** deaths, with millions of civilian deaths not counted. Nearly *U.S. military personnel fatalities were reported, with the majority being from the Army. After the war, South Korea and the United States signed a Mutual Defense Treaty, committing both to defend each other against outside threats and allowing U.S. troops to be stationed in South Korea. 

Current U.S. military presence and cost sharing

As of 2025, approximately *U.S. military personnel are stationed in South Korea, with the Army and Air Force making up the largest contingents. Each country’s responsibilities regarding the stationed U.S. troops, especially South Korea’s cost-sharing with the United States, are based on the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), which was initially signed in 1966 and has been revised several times since then. Under this cost-sharing arrangement, which is negotiated every five years, South Korea’s share has steadily increased over the past decades, surpassing *** trillion won in 2019.