The HMM-operated oil tanker Universal Winner arrives at Ulsan Port on June 10.YONHAP
Another Korean-operated liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier has successfully exited the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.
The LNG carrier became the second South Korean vessel to transit the strait since the blockade, about 20 days after the HMM-operated tanker Universal Winner made its passage on May 20.
"The vessel's passage was coordinated by its foreign charterer, and it is now en route to its final destination in a third country," the ministry said.
The ship, operated by a Korean shipper, is carrying eight Korean crew members, according to officials.
The charterer is reportedly QatarEnergy, Qatar’s state-owned oil and gas company. The vessel’s final destination is Pakistan.
Unlike the Universal Winner’s passage, which came after direct talks between Seoul and Tehran, the latest passage was arranged primarily by the charterer rather than by the two governments.
A drone view of vessels anchored near the Strait of Hormuz as seen from Musandam, Oman, on June 8.REUTERS/YONHAP
The Korean government reportedly learned of the passage only at a late stage.
Diplomatic observers believe the identities of both the charterer and the destination played a decisive role in receiving passage clearance. The vessel's charterer, Qatar, and its destination, Pakistan, are both close partners of Iran and have at times served as mediators in regional disputes.
Last month, at least three LNG carriers traveling from Qatar to Pakistan passed through the Strait via a shipping route near Larak Island with Iranian approval under initiatives led by the Qatari and Pakistani governments.
Pakistan, which has suffered widespread power outages due to gas supply disruptions, has been aggressively seeking to secure LNG shipments. Many analysts believe Iran allowed the transit in consideration of its diplomatic relationships with both countries.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the White House's Oval Office in Washington on June 10.UPI/YONHAP
"Last month, I directed our Great U.S. Military to execute a secret mission to support Oil Tankers and other Commercial Ships through the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday. “More than 200 Commercial Ships have safely traveled through the Strait. This wildly successful effort is because the UNITED STATES of AMERICA CONTROLS the Strait of Hormuz — NOT Iran,” Trump added.
A source who spoke on condition of anonymity said the “vessel departed without a military escort from U.S. forces and likely paid no separate payment to Iran in exchange for passage."
The transit was completed just before Iran announced a full closure of the Strait of Hormuz. On Thursday, Iran declared that it would completely shut down the strategic waterway in response to two days of U.S. strikes. Local media later reported that Iranian forces opened fire on two vessels attempting to pass through the strait that same day.
With the latest vessel’s passage, the number of Korean ships stranded near the strait has fallen from 25 to 24. The number of Korean crew members remaining in the area has also dropped, from 147 to 139.
“Given how rapidly the situation is evolving, the timing and luck were on our side,” a government official said.
The Universal Winner, which was carrying 2 million barrels of crude oil, arrived at Ulsan Port on Wednesday.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
