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Some 40 Korean vessels remain around Hormuz amid Middle East tensions

Published: 03 Mar. 2026, 19:54

Vessels move in in the Strait of Hormuz on March 2. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

Some 40 Korean commercial vessels were found to be operating in or near the Strait of Hormuz, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said Tuesday, amid escalating tensions across the Middle East following U.S. and Israeli air strikes on Iran.

On Monday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declared the Strait of Hormuz closed and threatened to attack any ships passing through the route, which carries one-fifth of oil consumed globally, according to Iran's state media.

Korea's Oceans Ministry has ordered vessels within or near the route to move to a nearby safer location, while prohibiting new vessels from entering the shipping route, while operating a 24-hour emergency response system to check the safety of Korean vessels in the area.

As of 7 a.m., there were a total of 40 Korean vessels in waters around the strait, including 26 ships located in the inner areas of the strait, according to the ministry.

Companies with a Middle Eastern business presence have initiated emergency measures.

Korea's largest container shipper, HMM, has anchored its container vessel sailing in Hormuz at a port in Dubai. The company is considering having vessels that sail near the waterway unload their cargo at alternative ports instead of at ones inside the strait.

Semiconductor giant Samsung Electronics reportedly evacuated employees working in Iran and Israel to nearby countries in the Middle East. It also issued a remote-work order to staff in the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Qatar.

Hyundai Motor said it is maintaining an emergency contact system with its staff, while closely monitoring new developments in the region.

"All our staff in the Middle East remain safe. We are reviewing additional response measures if necessary," a company representative said.

Yonhap