Lee calls for reopening of Strait of Hormuz, pledges support for free navigation

▲ President Lee Jae-myung speaks during a meeting with officials from public institutions and related agencies at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on April 17, 2026. (Yonhap)

Lee-Strait of Hormuz

Lee calls for reopening of Strait of Hormuz, pledges support for free navigation

SEOUL, April 17 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung on Friday called for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, pledging to make tangible contributions to ensuring freedom of navigation, his office said.

The remarks were made during a multilateral meeting in Paris that brought together representatives from about 50 nations, including the leaders of France, Britain, Germany and Italy in person, with others joining virtually, presidential spokesperson Jeon Eun-su said in a written briefing.

Participants discussed measures to address disruptions to the key oil transit route, effectively shut down by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, and ways to ease the impact of the conflict.

The meeting was convened before Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that the strait is "completely" open for the duration of a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.

During the meeting, Lee urged the international community to work together to swiftly resolve the impasse and develop mechanisms to ensure stability in the waterway.

Emphasizing that South Korea imports about 70 percent of its crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz, Lee underscored the country's strong commitment to making meaningful contributions to safeguarding freedom of navigation in the region.

Lee also expressed concerns that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a shared global asset and a critical pillar of the supply chain, is destabilizing energy, financial, industrial and food security worldwide.

He pointed to ongoing risks to the safety and health of sailors, including South Koreans, stranded in the strait under worsening conditions.

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