PM orders review of evacuation flight plans amid Iran crisis

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said Monday the government will take preemptive measures, including reviewing plans to deploy transport aircraft for possible evacuations, as Middle East tensions escalate following the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in U.S.-Israeli strikes.

"We must take preemptive measures against all possible scenarios. Volatility in financial markets and rising oil prices — risks we had anticipated — are already materializing. The government must be prepared to respond immediately in case the situation is prolonged," Kim said during an emergency meeting on the Iran crisis with relevant ministries.

Kim ordered officials to prioritize the safety of Korean nationals in the region, including those stranded in airports due to widespread flight cancellations.

He also instructed the finance ministry to take the lead in assessing the concerns of companies affected by the crisis and informing businesses of available support measures.

The session followed President Lee Jae Myung's order to establish a prime minister-led emergency response system to address the Middle East crisis, made before his departure Saturday for visits to Singapore and the Philippines.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, about 60 Koreans are currently in Iran and roughly 600 in Israel. No Korean casualties have been reported.

Earlier in the day, the ministry issued a temporary special travel advisory for the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, effective from 6 p.m. It urged citizens planning to travel to the region to cancel or postpone their trips, and advised those already there to relocate to safer areas.

Officials in Seoul appear worried that tensions could become protracted as conflict in the Middle East intensifies. In a social media post on Sunday (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump said military operations in Iran would continue, as Tehran intensifies retaliation to the strikes a day earlier that killed Khamenei.

According to Cheong Wa Dae, all staff at the presidential office reported to work Monday, a substitute holiday marking the March 1 Independence Movement Day.

Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik was briefed on developments in the Middle East and their potential impact on domestic and international financial markets. He also reviewed the government's emergency response system.

The Ministry of National Defense confirmed there were no reports of casualties of Korean troops overseas and noted they had stepped up their defense posture since Saturday.

In a briefing after the prime minister's meeting, Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina said the government is closely monitoring developments and preparing for potential evacuations.

"Our embassies are implementing comprehensive contingency measures to ensure that, in the event of an emergency, Korean nationals can evacuate as swiftly and safely as possible," she said, declining to share details of the evacuation plan.

Vice Oceans Minister Kim Sung-bum said the government is advising Korean vessels to refrain from entering the Strait of Hormuz, as Iranian forces have de facto blocked the waterway.

"Ships that have not yet entered the strait are waiting in waters near Oman, while those already inside are anchored in the Persian Gulf or near the coast off the United Arab Emirates," the vice minister said.