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The Strait of Hormuz viewed from Musandam, Oman, on June 22 (local time). / Courtesy of Reuters, Yonhap

The South Korean government announced on June 24 that four vessels operated by Korean shipping lines, which had been waiting in the Strait of Hormuz, have successfully transited the waterway and are now navigating normally. This comes two days after two other ships escaped the strait on June 22, leaving 18 Korean-flagged or Korean-operated vessels remaining inside the channel. Excluding the HMM Namu, which is currently undergoing hull repairs following a previous attack, the remaining vessels are reportedly making full-scale preparations to exit the strait.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries on June 25, the four Korean ships that recently cleared the Strait of Hormuz have a combined crew that includes 26 South Korean nationals. One of these vessels is bound for South Korea, while the remaining three are headed to third-party destinations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries explained that they monitored the transit of the vessels in real time, providing critical information to ensure their safe passage.

Currently, 18 Korean vessels remain inside the strait, carrying a total of 108 South Korean crew members. Reflecting the preferences of both the crews and the shipping firms, the government withheld specific vessel details, including precise transit routes, corporate names, and ship names, from public release.

"To ensure the swift, free, and safe navigation of our vessels, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and our overseas diplomatic missions are working as a unified team to maintain continuous consultations with relevant nations," a government official stated. "Moving forward, we will continue to support the 18 vessels waiting inside the strait by sharing transit trends and information, thereby helping shipping lines formulate their own operational plans for safe passage."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is maintaining real-time lines of communication with key stakeholders, including the United States and Iran, to secure the safe passage and future freedom of navigation for Korean vessels in the region. Through these diplomatic channels, the ministry expects to see a steady stream of concrete outcomes, such as further successful transits through the Strait of Hormuz.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is also working to schedule a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. "We are currently rescheduling the call due to a sudden conflict in the Iranian foreign minister's diplomatic itinerary," a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said.

A government official added, "The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries plans to issue a separate daily briefing at 9:00 AM regarding specific updates on the transiting vessels and their crews."

                                                                                                          Mok Yong-jae