South Korea Dispatches Envoys to Secure Oil Amid Hormuz Closure

South Korea announced plans on Monday to dispatch special envoys to major oil-producing nations, including Saudi Arabia, Oman and Algeria, to secure alternative crude oil supplies amid ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz caused by the Middle East conflict. The move comes as Iran has effectively closed the vital waterway in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli strikes that began on February 28, threatening energy security for Asia's import-dependent economies.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly 70 percent of South Korea's crude oil imports previously passed, has left 26 South Korean-flagged vessels stranded, carrying 173 crew members whose safety the government is prioritizing through diplomatic channels. Officials from the Foreign Ministry reported engaging in multilateral talks, including U.K.-led foreign ministers' meetings and discussions with Iran, to address the situation. No immediate attempts by the stranded ships to navigate the strait were underway, though vessels from other nations, such as Japan and France, have successfully exited in recent weeks.

To bypass the blockage, South Korea is preparing to deploy five of its flagged vessels to Saudi Arabia's...