Seoul is grappling with the fallout from the sudden shutdown of a key maritime corridor that has disrupted regional shipping and strained South Korea’s supply chains. The closure, linked to heightened tensions over Iran, has forced the capital to reroute cargo and confront rising costs for industries reliant on imported raw materials. At the same time, Washington is intensifying diplomatic pressure on Seoul to join a broader coalition aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, prompting a delicate balancing act between economic stability and security commitments. The government’s response will shape both its trade outlook and its standing with the United States amid an increasingly volatile Middle‑East landscape.
Seoul heavily affected by closure of strategic waterway and under heavy US pressure for participation against Iran.
