Twenty-six Korean vessels remain stranded in the Arabian Sea, unable to navigate the Strait of Hormuz for escort cooperation, while ships from other nations proceed. Ruling People Power Party spokesperson Rep. Jang Dong-hyuk questioned whether Foreign Minister Lee, once hailed as a ‘diplomatic genius’ by President Lee, remains silent on the issue.
Jang’s Direct Critique
During a press conference in Seoul’s Yeouido on April 5, Rep. Jang addressed the ‘2026 National Assembly Supplementary Budget Deliberation Preparatory’ meeting. He posted on Facebook that afternoon: “Two ships here have exited the Hormuz Strait. Meanwhile, our 26 vessels and approximately 180 crew members are held back.”
Recent French Precedent
On April 2, the French shipping firm CMA CGM successfully guided a small vessel through the Hormuz Strait. This included cooperation involving liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers and related in-port fuel. Officials emphasized comprehensive preparations covering vessel nationalities, fuel supply, operators, environmental impact assessments, mock exercises, and crew statuses.
The Foreign Ministry stated: “The government prioritizes vessel and crew safety while incorporating shippers’ input.”
Government Accused of Muzzling Criticism
Rep. Jang accused the administration of stifling public discourse, saying: “The government fumbles at citizens’ input. Framing concerns as ’cause-poking,’ ‘petty,’ ‘big egg,’ or ‘fear-mongering’ labels them ‘fake news.'”
On April 2, presidential chief of staff Kim Min-seok urged focus on core policy fronts amid online and SNS-driven misinformation. He dismissed ’cause-poking’ claims as baseless and described other expressions as reflecting “the most realistic news.”
Escalating Rebuttal
Rep. Jang countered: “The cause has already been poked, and airport passengers confirm it’s petty. Long-range drones evoke fear until a bombing state emerges. No matter what, it’s fake news.”
He pressed the government: “When citizens demand answers on safely returning Korean ships from the Arabian Sea, foreign cooperation must emerge.” Officials responded: “Whether the Foreign Minister is involved or it’s a ‘safe fold’ remains speculative.”
