▲ Kang Hoon-sik, the presidential chief of staff, holds a briefing on the Middle East situation at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on March 6, 2026. (Yonhap)

presidential aide-Middle East

Top presidential aide to visit Kazakhstan, Oman, Saudi Arabia to discuss securing crude oil, naphtha

By Yi Wonju

SEOUL, April 7 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung's chief of staff said he will depart for Kazakhstan, Oman and Saudi Arabia later Tuesday to discuss ways to secure crude oil and naphtha supplies.

Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik's visit to the region comes as the government has been seeking to secure crude oil as the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping route, is effectively closed amid the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.

The government's most urgent priority is to ensure the stable supplies of essential necessities, Kang told reporters, noting that South Korea remains heavily dependent on oil and naphtha supplies imported from the Middle East. Naphtha is a key feedstock widely used in petrochemical and other industries.

Kang is set to depart later in the day as a special presidential envoy, along with trade ministry officials.

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