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Korean vessels remain stuck in Strait of Hormuz despite special envoy's efforts

Published: 30 Apr. 2026, 20:36

Ships and tankers sail in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Musandam, Oman, April 18. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

The fate of 26 Korea-linked vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz remains uncertain despite the government's efforts of sending a special envoy to Iran.

Iran’s demand for transit fees is clashing with Seoul’s position on freedom of navigation, complicating efforts to resume vessel operations.

Special envoy Chung Byung-ha met with senior Iranian officials, including Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, during a visit to Tehran to request swift and safe passage for the vessels, according to diplomatic sources on Thursday.

Chung emphasized the two countries’ history of trust, noting that Korean companies remained in Iran during the Iran-Iraq War from 1980 to 1988. Iranian officials reportedly have recognized Korea’s diplomatic efforts and signaled openness to maintaining communication channels.

However, no agreement has been reached on resuming vessel operations. Iran has maintained that ships must undergo prior consultation and pass through designated routes, while it has also publicly insisted on receiving a transit fee for passage through the strait.

The Korean government has rejected Iran's demand and has maintained a firm stance that it cannot pay transit fees under the principle of freedom of navigation for all vessels.

This photo, released by Iran's foreign ministry on April 23 shows Korea's special envoy, Chung Byung-ha, left, meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in Tehran on April 22. [YONHAP]

Shipping companies remain on edge. The proposed routes designated by Iran run close to Iran's territorial waters, raising safety concerns and the risk of exposure to the U.S. sanctions.

The fear stems from the possibility that payments made under the guise of navigation guidance could be misinterpreted by the U.S. government as transit fees, potentially providing grounds for sanctions.

Regarding reports of a U.S.-led international maritime coalition in the Strait of Hormuz, a Foreign Ministry official stated that they "did not receive an invitation yet."

“We are still at a stage where we first need to review the specific plans made by the United States,” added the ministry official.

A Japanese vessel recently exited the strait via an Iranian-designated route, but Korean ships are expected to take longer to exit due to various diplomatic and economic factors.

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.
BY PARK JONG-SUH [[email protected]]