Two South Korean Ships Navigate Hormuz Strait After Months of Delay

Seoul, June 27: Following a peace agreement between the United States and Iran, maritime traffic through the Hormuz Strait has resumed. After being stranded for months, two South Korean ships have successfully passed through the strait.

According to a report by the Yonhap news agency, a South Korean official stated, “Two vessels operated by South Korean shipping companies, which had been waiting inside the Hormuz Strait, are now proceeding normally after passing through the waterway.”

These ships are part of the 26 South Korean-linked vessels that became trapped after Iran closed shipping routes at the end of February. The first two ships managed to exit the strait with Iran’s assistance during heightened tensions, while the remaining vessels have been leaving one by one since the recent ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran was signed earlier this month.

However, three South Korean-linked ships remain stranded in the Hormuz Strait, including the ‘HMM Namyu,’ which was damaged in Iranian missile attacks and is currently undergoing repairs at a port in Dubai. According to the official, a total of 43 South Korean crew members are still trapped in the strait, including those aboard South Korean and foreign-flagged vessels.

The official mentioned that real-time monitoring was conducted in collaboration with the Foreign Ministry to assist the ships in safely navigating the waterway, along with providing diplomatic and navigational support.

Recently, the two ships that exited the Hormuz Strait had four South Korean crew members on board, but none of these vessels are heading to South Korea.

Meanwhile, in response to a decline in global crude oil prices, South Korea announced a reduction in the maximum prices of fuel products on Friday. Additionally, the finance minister promised to stabilize electricity and gas rates in the second half of the year to further control inflation.

Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol made these statements during a meeting with economy-related ministers. He emphasized that the cap system would remain in place until consumer prices stabilize completely.

The finance minister added, “The government is closely monitoring developments in the Middle East and the South Korean economy. Furthermore, there will be a phased adjustment to the current emergency measures.”