US and South Korea Establish Permanent Combined Ground Command, Advancing Wartime Control Transfer

Historic Establishment of Combined Ground Component Command

The United States and South Korea have officially established the Combined Ground Component Command (CGCC) as a permanent, standing unit, marking a pivotal development in the allies' efforts to transfer wartime operational control (OPCON) to Seoul. The transition was approved during a bilateral Permanent Military Committee meeting in late October 2025, with the command becoming fully operational in December 2025.

Previously, the CGCC was activated only during contingency operations or large-scale joint exercises. Its new permanent status enables American troops to be regularly assigned as members of a combined combat staff, facilitating continuous joint operational planning and preparation for major drills such as the upcoming Freedom Shield exercise in March.

Advancing South Korea's Wartime Operational Control

This establishment is a crucial step in South Korea's long-standing goal of assuming wartime operational control of allied forces. The commander of the CGCC is a South Korean four-star general, who also concurrently holds the post of commander of South Korea's Ground Operations Command. This arrangement means a South Korean general will exercise operational control over assigned U.S. forces during wartime ground operations.

The broader initiative for OPCON transfer is conditions-based, requiring South Korea to meet specific capabilities. The process involves three stages of evaluation and certification: Initial Operational Capability (IOC), Full Operational Capability (FOC), and Full Mission Capability. IOC was completed in 2019 and 2020, followed by FOC evaluation in 2022. Both nations have agreed to pursue FOC verification for the future Combined Forces Command headquarters in 2026.

Strengthening the US-ROK Alliance

The CGCC operates under the umbrella of the Combined Forces Command (CFC), the overarching warfighting headquarters established in 1978. The CFC's mission is to deter or, if necessary, defeat external aggression against the Republic of Korea (ROK). The command structure of the CFC is characterized by binational manning, with a four-star U.S. general serving as commander and a four-star ROK Army general as deputy commander.

With the CGCC's transition, four of the six planned combined component commands—ground, naval, air, and marine—have now been established as standing units within the CFC structure. Efforts are also underway to permanently establish the remaining two commands, which oversee special operations and military intelligence support. This ongoing integration underscores the mutual commitment of the United States and South Korea to enhance their combined defense posture and ensure regional stability.