South Korean President Lee Jae Myung confirmed Tuesday that all but two South Korean-operated vessels have successfully exited the Strait of Hormuz, bringing the country's maritime exposure in the conflict zone to a near standstill.
The update signals a decisive reduction in direct asset risk for Seoul's shipping sector amid the ongoing U.S.-Iran war.
The departure of the remaining fleet follows weeks of operational standstill and diplomatic pressure.
Earlier this week, the South Korean oceans ministry confirmed that two additional vessels had navigated out of the waterway, ending months of uncertainty for those specific assets.
President Lee’s statement on Friday had already indicated that three more ships were expected to leave over the weekend, a trajectory that has now largely materialized.
For global energy markets, the clearance of South Korean tonnage reduces the immediate threat of targeted disruptions involving one of the world's largest shipping nations.