25 Korean Vessels Remain in Hormuz... Government to Continue Additional Transit Talks with Iran

As one Korean oil tanker continues its voyage through the Strait of Hormuz, the transit of the remaining 25 Korean vessels remains a key issue. The government has maintained the position that the 'HMM Namu' attack incident cannot be used as a bargaining tool, drawing attention to further negotiations.

On May 20, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced, "One of our oil tankers has passed through the Strait of Hormuz and is continuing its voyage," adding, "Approximately 10 Korean crew members are on board the vessel." The tanker that passed through the Strait of Hormuz is the HMM Universal Winner, which is expected to follow the route designated by Iran, pass through the Gulf of Oman, and head for Ulsan Port in Korea. The tanker is carrying approximately 2 million barrels of crude oil.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "Since the outbreak of the war, there have been four phone calls between the foreign ministers of Korea and Iran, the dispatch of a special envoy from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for about two weeks, as well as ongoing requests to the Iranian side for the safety and free passage of all vessels through all levels of diplomatic channels, including the foreign ministries of both countries, the Embassy of Korea in Iran, and the Embassy of Iran in Korea."

The government is expected to use the passage of this oil tanker as an opportunity to continue additional consultations with Iran regarding the remaining Korean vessels, and to keep discussing the issue of ensuring their safe passage. An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "We are continuing discussions to ensure all Korean vessels can transit freely."

It has been reported that Iran conveyed its position that the transit of Korean vessels would be permitted just one day after Foreign Minister Cho Hyun spoke with Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs, on May 17 to request clarification on the facts regarding the Namu incident. The government maintains that the Namu attack and the issue of Korean vessel transit must not be linked. Minister Cho stated at the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, "From the very beginning, we have maintained the basic position that all vessels must be allowed free passage and that such matters cannot be used as a negotiation tool."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.