Brunson’s OPCON Roadmap Signals New Pressure for Korea to Hike Defense Spending

General Brunson’s latest roadmap for the OPCON transfer suggests South Korea may face tougher demands to increase its military budget. Meeting the specific conditions for regaining operational control likely requires a significant boost in Seoul’s defense spending. This shift signals that Washington expects Korea to shoulder a heavier financial burden for its own security infrastructure. As the transition timeline tightens, the cost of strategic independence is becoming a major point of contention.