The Navy's Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin–class destroyer Wang Geon (DDH-II 4,400-ton class) departed on the 15th. It is to rotate in as the 48th contingent of the Cheonghae Unit performing missions in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia. The Cheonghae Unit's area of operations is the Gulf of Aden, but there is talk that, depending on circumstances, it could also be deployed to the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the Navy, Wang Geon departed for the Gulf of Aden after completing a send-off ceremony at the Busan Operational Base at about 4 p.m. that day. The 48th contingent of the Cheonghae Unit consists of Wang Geon's crew and the flotilla headquarters staff, as well as special warfare personnel (UDT/SEAL). There is also a support detachment made up of a boarding search team, an aviation unit operating a shipborne helicopter (Lynx), and Marines and medical and maintenance personnel. The total force numbers around 260. About 30% of them have prior experience deployed with the Cheonghae Unit.
During its deployment, the 48th contingent of the Cheonghae Unit will conduct counter-piracy operations in and around the Gulf of Aden, tasked with the safe escort of vessels and support for safe navigation. In contingencies, it will protect Korean nationals and participate in maritime security operations by the Combined Maritime Forces and the European Union Naval Force Somalia.
Under the deployment consent motion passed by the National Assembly, the Cheonghae Unit's deployment area is the Gulf of Aden. However, if the Korean government joins military coordination to open the Strait of Hormuz, such as the U.S. "maritime freedom initiative," and goes through National Assembly ratification, observers say the Cheonghae Unit's operational scope could be expanded. In fact, the 48th contingent of the Cheonghae Unit is said to have reinforced counter-drone protection systems. This system is designed to counter explosive-laden drones that were mainly used in the U.S.-Iran war.
It takes about 3–4 weeks for the Cheonghae Unit to reach the Gulf of Aden. The Navy said it plans to rotate missions with the 47th contingent next month.
Navy Chief of Staff Kim Kyung-ryul said in a charge to the troops, "The Cheonghae Unit symbolizes the Republic of Korea's strong naval power and is living history that proves the Republic of Korea is fulfilling its role as a responsible global power." An Woo-jin, the 48th contingent commander of the Cheonghae Unit, said, "All members of the 48th contingent of the Cheonghae Unit will complete the missions assigned by the nation and the people."
Launched with the March 2009 deployment of the first contingent aboard Munmu the Great, the Cheonghae Unit has, over the 17 years since its establishment to date, escorted more than 2,400 vessels, including Korean ships, and supported the safe navigation of more than 39,000 vessels.