Presidential aide heads to Kazakhstan, Oman, Saudi Arabia to secure energy supplies

Kang Hoon-sik, presidential chief of staff, speaks during a press briefing on the Middle East situation at the presidential office in Seoul, Tuesday. On his right is Kim Yong-beom, the presidential chief of staff for policy. Yonhap

Kang Hoon-sik, presidential chief of staff, will depart Tuesday as a presidential envoy to Kazakhstan, Oman and Saudi Arabia to secure additional energy supplies amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

Kang made the announcement during a press briefing on the Middle East situation at the presidential office earlier in the day, alongside Kim Yong-beom, the presidential chief of staff for policy.

The delegation includes officials from relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, as well as representatives from domestic energy companies. The trip aims to expand crude oil and naphtha imports and diversify supply sources as Seoul moves to reduce its dependence on a single supply corridor.

“Our economy relies heavily on oil and naphtha imports from the Middle East, making it all the more urgent to secure alternative supply lines,” Kang said, adding that the government will work closely with companies to ensure shipments reach Korean ports without disruption.

Kang noted that Korea imported more than 60 percent of its crude oil and over half of its naphtha through the Strait of Hormuz last year, highlighting the risks posed by prolonged instability in the region.

Twenty-six Korean ships are currently waiting in the strait and Kang said the government is working on measures to ensure their safe passage, with the safety of the crews as the top priority. Most of the vessels have sufficient food and basic medical supplies on board and are being monitored daily, he added.

Kang emphasized securing alternative supply lines is becoming more urgent as Korea remains heavily dependent on energy from the Middle East.

“Every barrel of crude oil and every ton of naphtha matters at this point,” he said.

He added that the government is using all available policy tools to stabilize supplies of essential goods, including medical products and equipment.

Kim, speaking alongside Kang, noted price increases are “inevitable” as global energy costs rise, but added that the government will try to contain the impact.

“Price increases are unavoidable to some extent, but we will make every effort to contain them,” he said.

He also stressed that securing supply volumes remains the immediate priority, even if it comes at a higher cost, given the broader impact of naphtha supply shortage on key industries.

He added that talk of a second supplementary budget is “premature,” saying the focus should be on passing and executing the current plan.