South Korea asks Gulf nations for steady energy supply, safety of Korean vessels

South Korean Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol met with ​envoys from Gulf countries to ‌shore up energy security and the ​safety of Korean ⁠vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, the Ministry said on Sunday (April 5, 2026), as the ‌escalating Iran war disrupts shipping.

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In the meeting on Friday (April 3), ‌Mr. Koo asked the Gulf ‌Cooperation Council ⁠ambassadors to ensure a steady ⁠supply of oil, liquefied natural gas, naphtha, urea and other critical resources, and ​to ensure the ‌safety of Korean vessels and crew near the vital strait, the Ministry said in a statement.

The ‌envoys said South Korea ​is a “top priority” nation and pledged to communicate closely with ⁠Seoul to ensure stable supply, the statement said.

Like other Asian economies, ‌South Korea relies heavily on energy imports, including through the Strait of Hormuz, which was a conduit for 20% of the world’s oil before the ‌U.S. and Israel launched the war on ​February 28. Iran has since effectively shut down the waterway, ⁠driving up energy prices and stoking fears ⁠of a global recession.

The six GCC member states ‌are Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and ​Bahrain.