Kinshasa, March 23rd, 2026 (CPA).- The South Korean government has called on Monday for Iran to cease attacks on civilian infrastructure in Gulf countries and to ensure the safety of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, international media have reported. “I call on Tehran to cease attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in Gulf countries, to ensure the safety of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz (…) and to stabilise the global energy supply,” has declared Cho Hyun, South Korea’s Minister in charge of Foreign Affairs.
Around 70% of South Korea’s oil imports pass through the strait, which has been effectively closed by Iran since the Israeli-American attacks on the Islamic Republic on February 28th. Mr Cho has also called for ‘necessary security measures’ to be taken in favour of numerous South Korean vessels anchored in the area awaiting passage. The consequences of the war in the Middle East have forced Seoul to impose a price cap on fuel, a first in 30 years.
South Korea consumed around 2.5 million barrels of oil per day in 2024, according to Worldometer. That same year saw around 20 million barrels of crude oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz daily.