South Korean leader Lee clashes with Israel as Hormuz tanker crisis threatens energy security

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s recent diplomatic confrontation with Israel is driven by factors beyond a standard defense of human rights, according to regional analysts. The shift in rhetoric appears increasingly tied to critical energy security concerns and a strategic signal directed at Donald Trump.

At least 26 South Korean tankers are currently believed to be stranded near the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts suggest this logistical crisis alone explains why President Lee engaged in a high-stakes diplomatic dispute with Israel last week.

The controversy erupted on Friday after Lee commented on video footage purportedly showing Israeli soldiers pushing a body off a rooftop.

“We need to verify whether this is true and, if so, what actions have been taken,” Lee wrote. He further stated that there is “no difference” between such wartime killings and the Holocaust or the “comfort women”—a reference to Korean women forced into sexual slavery by Japanese forces during World War II.

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded swiftly, accusing Lee of trivializing the genocide of the Jewish people on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day. Israeli officials further alleged that the South Korean leader was amplifying a “fake account” notorious for spreading anti-Israel disinformation.

Israel maintained that the video, which it claimed was “investigated and handled appropriately months ago,” depicted an adult militant killed during an operation in the West Bank rather than a child, as some reports had suggested.

Lee responded to the criticism hours later, stating: “The only thing that can be considered a slight consolation is that this involved a corpse rather than a living person.” He added, however, that “treating a corpse in such a manner remains a violation of international law.”

Tankers in limbo

South Korea, the world’s 10th largest economy, is heavily dependent on oil transported through the Strait of Hormuz. Prior to the current conflict, the strait served as a conduit for approximately 25% of all seaborne petroleum trade, making it the world’s most vital energy chokepoint.

Nam Sung-wook, a security analyst and former head of the South Korean Institute for National Security Strategy, told the South China Morning Post that approximately 26 South Korean tankers are currently stalled in the region. Nam, now a distinguished professor at Sookmyung Women’s University, noted that the potential closure of the strait during a US-Israeli conflict with Iran is becoming an increasingly urgent economic threat for Seoul.

Lee Jun-han, a professor of political science at Incheon National University, observed that South Korea “cannot be blamed for adding its voice to growing international calls for a ceasefire and an end to human rights violations.”

However, Jhee Byong-kuen, a professor of political science at Chosun University, offered a more strategic interpretation. “(Lee) was indirectly signaling to Washington that South Korea will not be dragged into a war it does not want,” Jhee said.

This comes as Trump increasingly voices frustration with allies he perceives as “free-riders” who do not sufficiently support Washington’s military efforts, specifically targeting South Korea alongside Japan and the European Union.

Seoul’s damage control

As the diplomatic row intensified over the weekend, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs not only questioned Lee’s motives for sharing the video but also pointed out his silence regarding “recent Iranian and Hezbollah terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens.”

Seoul’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs attempted to de-escalate the situation on Saturday, reframing Lee’s remarks as an expression of “universal human rights” rather than a specific stance on any individual conflict. The ministry reiterated that South Korea condemns terrorism and maintains deep empathy for the victims of the Holocaust.

President Lee issued his own final statement on Sunday via social media, writing: “The sovereignty of every nation and universal human rights must be respected, and aggressive war must be rejected.”

“Empathy applies not only to individuals but also to international relations… If you want to be respected in return, you must respect others,” he added.

Experts maintain that at the core of the dispute is the potential economic devastation an extended conflict could inflict on the South Korean economy.

Domestic political reaction

The incident has sparked significant debate within South Korea’s domestic political sphere.

The conservative People Power Party accused Lee of “showing off over a conflict thousands of kilometers away” while “ignoring human rights violations in North Korea.” The party characterized the tension with Israel as a “diplomatic disaster.”

In response, Lee’s ruling Democratic Party defended the statements. They pointed to South Korea’s recent co-sponsorship of a United Nations Human Rights Council resolution regarding North Korea as evidence that the president’s commitment to human rights principles remains consistent.