Six South Korean-operated vessels have now successfully completed a Hormuz transit since Washington and Tehran reached a landmark interim agreement last week. Four additional ships cleared the strategic waterway on Wednesday, bringing the total number of vessels that have passed through to six. South Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries confirmed that all 26 sailors aboard the four departing ships are sailing safely. Nevertheless, 18 South Korean-linked vessels still remain inside the Persian Gulf, along with 108 Korean sailors.
The breakthrough follows weeks of diplomatic pressure and mounting concern over crew safety in the region. Under the interim deal, Iran agreed to allow ships through without charging transit fees during a 60-day negotiation window. Consequently, South Korean officials moved quickly to coordinate passages for their remaining fleet. Seoul’s Foreign Ministry stressed it maintains near real-time communication with both Washington and Tehran throughout this process.
The four latest departing ships included a very large crude carrier, officials confirmed. Earlier, HMM’s carrier Universal Winner became the first Korean-run vessel to clear the strait since the conflict began, successfully completing its Hormuz transit on May 20. SK Shipping’s LNG carrier followed on June 11 after its Pakistani charterer independently arranged clearance with Iranian authorities.
Despite progress, authorities urge caution because sea mines and other hazards still threaten the waterway. Therefore, vessels are exploring alternative northern routes coordinated by Iran or paths near Oman monitored by US-led maritime forces. Officials declined to publicly disclose detailed vessel schedules, citing crew safety and corporate security concerns.
Diplomatically, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is arranging another call with Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi to further strengthen maritime cooperation. The two officials have already spoken four times since the conflict erupted. South Korea’s repeated engagement has gradually built trust between Seoul and Tehran, officials said. As negotiations continue, additional Hormuz transit activity is widely expected in the coming days.
