South Korea Secures Over 6 Million Barrels of UAE Oil Amid Rising Gulf Tensions
South Korea is taking urgent steps to safeguard its energy needs amid the growing Middle East crisis. Cheong Wa Dae confirmed on Friday that the nation will import more than six million barrels of crude oil from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a move aimed at stabilizing oil prices as regional tensions escalate, Yonhap News Agency reported.
Kang Hoon-sik, the presidential chief of staff, announced the emergency procurement plan during a briefing. The initiative comes after US-Israeli attacks on Iran and subsequent retaliatory strikes have raised global concerns over a potential energy crisis.
“At the instructions of President Lee Jae Myung, we have taken measures to secure crude oil supplies, and an emergency introduction of over 6 million barrels has been confirmed,” Kang said. He emphasized that this move will help shield the nation from volatile oil prices.
South Korea relies heavily on the Strait of Hormuz for crude oil imports—about 70% of its supply passes through this critical passage. With the strait effectively blocked due to regional conflict, the emergency plan is vital. Two South Korean oil tankers are set to collect 4 million barrels from a UAE port that avoids the strait, while the UAE will provide an additional 2 million barrels from a joint reserve stored in South Korea. This total exceeds twice South Korea’s daily oil consumption.
On the citizen safety front, Kang confirmed that a passenger flight carrying South Korean nationals has departed Dubai and is expected to arrive at Incheon International Airport at 7:30 PM Friday. Talks with UAE officials, including Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of Abu Dhabi’s Executive Affairs Authority, are ongoing to ensure the safe return of citizens.
Currently, about 18,000 South Koreans are spread across 14 Middle East nations. Of these, approximately 4,900 are short-term travelers, with 3,500 residing in the UAE and Qatar awaiting return flights. Commercial flights from Abu Dhabi are expected to resume Saturday, and a chartered Korean Air flight will assist in evacuations.
“The safety of our citizens is our top priority,” Kang said. “We will continue consultations with the UAE to bring all of our citizens back home as soon as possible.”
This proactive response not only ensures energy stability for South Korea but also demonstrates the government’s commitment to protecting its citizens abroad during uncertain times.