Presidential office issues written briefing pushing back on 'large-scale supply' allegation

'Origin unconfirmed; sanctions policy unchanged, facts being verified'

Cheong Wa Dae, the South Korean presidential office. [Yonhap]
Cheong Wa Dae, the South Korean presidential office. [Yonhap]

Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesday pushed back against public criticism from a Ukrainian presidential office official who alleged that South Korea had supplied large quantities of petroleum products to Russia, calling the claim "factually incorrect and inappropriate" and urging Kyiv to refrain from making public statements that could distort South Korea's policies or damage its international credibility without sufficient verification.

Chief Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung issued a written briefing Wednesday, saying the South Korean government "has consistently implemented sanctions against Russia and export controls in close coordination with the international community since Russia's invasion of Ukraine," adding that "this fundamental position remains unchanged."

Kang noted that the government had already made its position clear in response to recent media reports — including those by The Guardian — on the shipment of oil products from South Korea to Russia.

She strongly rebuffed the Ukrainian official's remarks, saying it was "factually incorrect and inappropriate" for a Ukrainian presidential office official to publicly cite The Guardian's reporting and, on the basis of individual transactions whose key facts — including the parties involved, the origin of the goods and the end buyers — had not been verified, suggest that South Korea had helped ease Russia's fuel shortages and offset the loss of its refining capacity, thereby acting in a manner inconsistent with existing sanctions policy against Russia.

"The government is currently working through relevant agencies to closely verify the facts and matters related to export controls, and will take necessary measures if any problems are confirmed," Kang said.

She also called on Ukraine "to refrain from making public statements that could distort South Korea's relevant policies or undermine international trust without sufficient verification of the facts."


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