South Korea's chief of staff secures Middle East energy supplies amid regional crisis

South Korea's Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik traveled to Kazakhstan, Oman, and Saudi Arabia on April 7, 2026, as President Lee Jae Myung's special envoy to negotiate additional crude oil and naphtha supplies. The mission reflects Seoul's urgent effort to fortify energy security amid prolonged Middle East supply disruptions threatening regional stability. South Korea depends heavily on imported energy, making these negotiations critical to prevent domestic economic disruption and inflation. This diplomatic push signals how geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are forcing major Asian economies to actively compete for scarce energy resources.