South Korea tanker carrying Kuwait oil navigates Hormuz Strait with Iran involvement

“At this very moment, our oil tanker is passing through the Strait of Hormuz,” Cho told lawmakers at the National Assembly in Seoul, confirming the vessel’s movement through one of the world’s most sensitive shipping lanes.

Ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic showed the South Korea-flagged tanker Universal Win operating on the eastern side of the Strait of Hormuz near the entrance to the Gulf of Oman. The vessel is reportedly heading toward the southeastern South Korean port city of Ulsan after departing Kuwait’s Mina Al Ahmadi port.

The transit comes weeks after a South Korean-operated vessel was struck by airborne objects near the Strait of Hormuz, an incident that raised concerns in Seoul over the safety of commercial shipping in the region.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical chokepoint for global oil transport, and any disruption or security incident in the area is closely monitored by energy markets and maritime authorities worldwide.