Going around, not through the strait – and beyond

I remember seeing various charts and graphs in school about the end of oil.

Those charts concerned Middle Eastern states.

Petroleum is perhaps still the world's most vital source of fuel.

A recent article in Science Insights (Nov. 18, 2025) indicates that global reserves, at current production levels and use, will last another 100 years.

Hannah Osborne in Live Science (May 31, 2024) cited a 2023 Rystad survey indicating 1.6 trillion barrels remain on earth.

Iran correctly views Korea as an ally of the United States.

While that is a simplification of Korea’s many allies and friends, including a great many nations in the Middle East, as a result, Iran won't guarantee safe passage for Seoul’s freight container behemoths.

The recent damage to one such cargo container in May from weapons manufactured in Iran has done nothing to calm matters.

Certainly, there will continue to be a lot of concern over oil in the Middle East and elsewhere.

Korea depends on the Middle East for 70 percent of its oil and 30 percent of its natural gas (Korea Times, March 3, 2026).

It has begun to use an altern