Updated : 2026-04-17 22:31:40 KST
A South Korean vessel unable to use the Strait of Hormuz has safely made its way to and from Saudi Arabia via the Red Sea. President Lee praised the operation as a successful example of government agencies working together as a team. Kim Suh-young starts us off. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said a South Korean tanker unable to pass through the Strait of Hormuz safely reached Saudi Arabia via the Red Sea, loaded crude oil there, and has now departed for South Korea.
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This is the first time South Korea has brought crude oil home via the Red Sea since the Strait of Hormuz was shut, opening a new supply route through one of the world's dangerous waterways. The Red Sea remains a high-risk area because it is a base of operation for Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. Since violence broke out between Israel and Hamas in October 2023, there have been 79 attacks on merchant vessels in the region.
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The ministry said it monitored the vessel around the clock as it sailed through the Red Sea, providing real-time information and maintaining constant communication to help ensure the safety of the crew. President Lee said in a post on social media platform X on Friday that he had received what he called "welcome news" that a South Korean vessel was safely transporting crude oil through the Red Sea.
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The president said the operation was a valuable achievement made possible by government agencies working together as one team. He also thanked everyone involved, especially the crew, for their efforts under difficult conditions. Lee said the government is mobilizing all available resources and will remain fully prepared to protect public safety and the national interest.
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Earlier this month, the government discussed securing crude oil supplies while monitoring South Korean vessels using the Red Sea as an alternative to the strait. Since then, the oceans ministry has worked with other agencies and the private sector. The ministry said the vessel's safe passage shows the government is delivering results amid growing uncertainty over crude oil supplies.
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Oceans Minister Hwang Jong-woo said the government will keep working with related agencies and industries to ensure crude oil shipments continue without disruption, while keeping the safety of South Korean vessels and crews as a top priority. Kim Suh-young, Arirang News.
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영어 원문 출처 및 동영상 링크;
arirang news/World
https://m.arirang.com/news/view?id=295089