Lee says 5 vessels remain in Strait of Hormuz, expects most to clear by weekend

President Lee Jae Myung said Friday that South Korean merchant vessels and their crews had exited the Strait of Hormuz "more swiftly and safely than any other country." He credited the Foreign Ministry, the National Security Office and the National Intelligence Service, saying their around-the-clock communication and coordination had been instrumental.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Lee said eight of the 13 South Korean-flagged vessels in the strait as of Thursday had since departed, leaving five remaining. Three of those five were expected to clear the strait by the weekend. The other two — the Namu, which is undergoing repairs, and one vessel whose operator has indicated it intends to stay due to cargo issues — would remain behind.

Earlier, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said eight South Korean-flagged vessels had successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz and resumed normal navigation as of 9 a.m. Friday. A total of 47 South Korean crew members remain in the strait — 17 aboard South Korean vessels and 30 aboard foreign-flagged ships.

Lee praised the work of the Foreign Ministry, the National Security Office, the NIS and other relevant agencies. "I commend the officials of the relevant ministries for their hard work, and ask that you also send them your encouragement," he said.