Anna Jiwon Park has been covering the politics at The Korea Times since the summer of 2024, when she joined the press pool for the Office of the President in Korea. Prior to that, she spent about five years reporting extensively on financial markets, regulatory authorities and the financial industry. She joined The Korea Times in 2019 after spending eight years as a broadcast journalist at Arirang TV, Korea’s leading global broadcaster, covering politics, defense and culture.
President Lee orders emergency response to Khamenei's death
President Lee Jae Myung and first lady Hea Kyung walk toward the presidential jet at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday, to depart for Singapore. Yonhap
By Anna J. Park
In response to escalating instability in the Middle East, following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, President Lee Jae Myung has instructed relevant ministries to maintain a full emergency response system.
According to presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung, Sunday, Lee issued the directive as he departed for a four-day official visit to Singapore and the Philippines. The president asked Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and the related authorities to oversee and sustain the emergency response posture.
“We are closely watching related developments and are implementing multi-layered measures to protect our citizens overseas,” the Presidential Office said in a statement. “We hope stability and peace in the Middle East will be restored as soon as possible.”
Lee also ordered officials to provide frequent updates on the evolving regional situation and its potential economic impact, emphasizing that the protection of Korean nationals abroad must remain the government’s top priority.
Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on social media Saturday that Khamenei had been killed in U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, writing, “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, is dead.” The Iranian government later confirmed his death.
After the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran, Saturday (local time, the Presidential Office convened a national security council meeting. The National Security Office said that it assessed the situation in Iran and the broader Middle East during the meeting, and reviewed the safety of South Korean nationals in the region.
It also evaluated the impact of the current situation on Korea’s security and economy, while examining measures taken by relevant ministries and their future response plans. The office is also closely monitoring the situation for further developments and preparing for the possibility of a prolonged crisis.
Lee has been receiving regular briefings and reviewing response measures as the situation continues to unfold.