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By Kim Tae-gyu
Some expatriates in South Korea have prepared evacuation plans in case the peninsula is embroiled in a war as tension between the two Koreas increased in the aftermath of several provocative acts by the North and a robust response from the South.
These people have secured a substantial amount of dollars as the Korean won is expected to suffer hyperinflation should a second Korean War break out.
In addition, they fill the fuel tanks of their cars so that they won’t have to line up at gas stations in the case of an emergency.
“My family has resided in Seoul almost a decade. Up until now, the war threat has appeared to be relatively small even when the North carried out nuclear tests,” said an executive at a multinational firm here.
“But things are seemingly different right now. In the wake of the Cheonan sinking and Yeonpyeong attack, I am worried that war might break out. Hence, I try to be prepared.”
The frigate Cheonan was sunk in March in an unprovoked torpedo attack in the West Sea. A multinational investigation team concluded that North Korea was responsible for the attack, which claimed 46 lives. Pyongyang has denied any involvement.
The North shelled the border island of Yeonpyeong last month, killing four people including two civilians. The South responded by carrying out a series of joint drills with the United States.
Fears of war have sprouted up more than after previous crises such as the North’s nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009.
“We set up a contingency plan under which we are supposed to meet in Busan at a specific time, if we are separated and our mobile phones are not working,” the executive said.
“Chances are that most of the airports would be destroyed. Accordingly, we will opt to move to Busan in order to take a ferry to Japan with the dollars we already have.”
A Korean official working for a Seoul-based subsidiary of a global corporation said that their foreign executives ask for updates on the possibility of war after the Yeonpyeong shelling.
“Throughout this month, they have asked me to come up with up-to-date information on the situation. I cannot do my job properly to meet their requests,” said the official who asked not to be named.
“They never did that before. I am also concerned that something bad might happen.”
외국인들 한국 탈출 계획 세워
서울에 있는 일부 외국인들은 최근 천안함과 연평도 사태 때문에 전쟁 위험이 높아지자 한국을 탈출 할 수 있는 계획을 세우고 있는 것으로 보인다.
그들은 전시 한화의 인플레이션을 대비 현금을 달러로 환전해 놓고 SUV나 Jeep에 기름을 가득 채워서 차고에 준비해 놓는 등이다.
한 다국적 회사 한국 지사의 외국인 임원은 “한국에 오래 살면서도 북한 핵실험 때도 전쟁위험이 느껴지지 않았다. 하지만 지금은 분위기가 묘하다. 그래서 미리 준비를 해 놓으려는 것이다”라고 했다.
그는 만일의 사태가 발생해 가족들과 헤어지고 이동통신이 불통일 경우를 대비해서 부산의 한 지점에서 특정한 시간에 만날 약속도 정해 놓았다고 한다. 전쟁이 나면 차를 타고 부산으로 가서 미리 준비한 달러로 페리를 타고 일본으로 건너 간다는 계획인 것이다.
