Home > National > Diplomacy

Seoul navigates dual blockade in Strait of Hormuz as special envoy returns from rare Tehran mission

Published: 30 Apr. 2026, 18:31 Updated: 30 Apr. 2026, 21:24

SEO JI-EUN
[email protected]

Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Chung Byung-ha, left, meets with Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Seyyed Abbas Araghchi on April 22 to discuss the situation in the Middle East and pending issues in bilateral relations. [MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN]

Korea’s special envoy to Tehran secured a direct line to the Iranian leadership but left without a deal to free 26 Korean-linked vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, officials said Thursday, as shipping companies remain paralyzed by fears of U.S. secondary sanctions and the risks of sailing without clearance from either Washington or Tehran.

Special envoy Chung Byung-ha, a former ambassador to Kuwait, returned to Seoul after a two-week mission to Tehran, marking the first high-level diplomatic visit by a Korean to the Iranian capital since regional hostilities escalated in February, a senior ministry official told reporters Thursday. Chung was sent a day after Foreign Minister Cho Hyun ordered the mission's dispatch, following the April 8 cease-fire announcement between the United States and Iran.

The immediate goal was to secure the safety of 40 Korean nationals and 26 vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf. However, Iran has demanded that ships use designated transit corridors and pay associated fees — a position that conflicts with the international principle of freedom of navigation.

With regional flights suspended, Chung traveled to Tehran overland via Turkmenistan — a 40-hour journey.

An initial meeting set for April 20 was canceled due to Iran's ongoing negotiations with Washington, and Chung ultimately met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on April 22. He also held separate meetings with Iran's vice ministers for economic and political affairs.

The Iranian side described the visit as the first by a senior foreign official since the war began, while praising Korea's decision to maintain its embassy operations amid the current wartime conditions.

"We emphasized that Seoul and Tehran have maintained friendly ties since establishing diplomatic relations," the official said, noting that the potential for bilateral cooperation remains high once regional stability is restored.

Seoul kept Washington informed throughout the mission, and the United States is said to have welcomed South Korea's role as a diplomatic bridge, according to the official.

Ships and boats in the Strait of Hormuz on April 29. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

Iran has required all vessels exiting the Gulf to use preapproved corridors within Iranian territorial waters — specifically near Larak Island — citing sea mines and the need for guided navigation. It has also requested service fees to cover the costs of mine clearance and pilotage.

Seoul has rejected paying fees for transit through what it considers international waterways. The two sides remain deadlocked over the legal and financial terms of passage, even as Korea has shared data on its 26 vessels with Iranian authorities to facilitate their safe passage.

The sensitivity of the issue was underscored by the April 28 passage of a Japanese-flagged very large crude carrier through the Larak Island corridor. Tokyo officially stated that no transit fees were paid.

Korean shipping companies have been reluctant to move their vessels regardless.

A source familiar with the matter said shipowners are primarily concerned about "U.S. secondary sanctions," fearing that using Iranian-designated routes could be interpreted as cooperation with sanctioned entities.

On reports that Washington is considering a new international maritime coalition to secure movements through the strait, a senior Foreign Ministry official said Seoul had received "no formal request" to join and was still assessing Washington's intentions.

Korea’s decision to send a direct envoy contrasts with the approach of other like-minded nations, including Japan and European countries, which have relied on multilateral statements or intermediaries such as Oman.

"Amid the volatility of a war zone, the mission was significant in that it expanded the diplomatic contact surface with Iran to directly convey messages regarding citizen safety and maritime transit," the official said. "The government is pursuing national interest-centered diplomacy by combining multilateral efforts to reopen the strait with bilateral initiatives like the special envoy."

The official said the mission was built on Foreign Minister Cho's earlier meetings and recent phone calls with Araghchi, establishing a stable communications channel with the Iranian leadership.

BY SEO JI-EUN [[email protected]]