South Korea Seeks Gulf Help to Keep Energy Flowing and Ships Safe

South Korean Finance Minister Koo Yun‑cheol held talks with diplomats from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Friday. He asked them to make sure that oil, liquefied natural gas, naphtha, urea and other vital supplies keep moving through the Strait of Hormuz. He also wanted guarantees that Korean ships and their crews can travel safely near this key chokepoint. The GCC envoys said that South Korea is a “top priority” for them. They promised to keep close contact with Seoul and to help maintain a steady flow of energy resources.South Korea, like many Asian economies, depends heavily on imported fuels that pass through the Hormuz Strait. That waterway used to carry about 20 % of global oil traffic. Since the U. S. and Israel started a conflict with Iran on February 28, Iran has largely shut down the strait. The result is higher energy prices and worries about a worldwide slowdown. The GCC members include Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain. South Korea is looking to these nations for both energy security and maritime safety as tensions rise in the region.