Gov’t begins evacuation measures for Koreans in Middle East

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok presides over a Cabinet meeting at Government Complex Seoul in Jongno District, Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

The government is evacuating some Korean nationals from parts of the Middle East as tensions in the region escalate, while withholding specific details for safety reasons, officials said Tuesday. About 21,000 Korean nationals are currently in 13 countries across the region.

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said the protection of overseas nationals must remain the government’s top priority as uncertainty grows.

“The protection of our nationals abroad is the government’s top priority,” Kim said during a Cabinet meeting at Government Complex Seoul. “Please ensure that evacuation measures and response plans for residents in the affected countries are thoroughly prepared.”

He added that relevant ministries must be ready to act if conditions worsen.

“The Ministry of National Defense has reported that military transport aircraft and other assets are on standby,” Kim said. “We must be prepared to respond immediately, should circumstances require it.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and lawmakers gave a briefing at a meeting between the ruling party and government earlier in the day, saying that of the roughly 21,000 Koreans in the Middle East, around 17,000 are long-term residents and the rest are short-term visitors, including tourists. Officials noted that excluding diplomatic staff, 59 Koreans remain in Iran and 616 in Israel.

Smoke rises after an Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburbs in Lebanon, following an escalation in the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, Tuesday. Reuters-Yonhap

A foreign ministry official said some nationals are relocating to safer areas with assistance from diplomatic missions.

“Korean nationals in the Middle East are moving to safer locations with the cooperation of our embassies,” the official said. “So far, there have been no reported casualties involving our citizens.”

The ministry said it is not disclosing the exact number of evacuees, the timing of the operations or the routes involved, citing security concerns.

The ministry has activated its overseas nationals protection task force and is sending out safety alerts while providing real-time updates on available commercial flights and alternative land routes.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Park Il said Seoul has no immediate plans to withdraw its diplomatic missions and is continuing to advise nationals to depart when commercial options are available.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and advising our nationals to leave when flights are operating,” Park said at a regular press briefing. “For those temporarily stranded due to cancellations, our embassies are providing information on available routes and travel options.”

Park added that the government is registering requests from nationals who wish to return and is taking action under established evacuation plans when necessary, though he declined to disclose operational details for safety reasons.

A senior official at the Prime Minister’s Office sought to clarify that not all travel disruptions constitute an emergency requiring immediate airlift operations.

“It would be helpful to distinguish between a crisis situation and an inconvenience,” the official said. “Land routes are not completely blocked, and commercial flights have not been entirely suspended.”

“Military transport aircraft are always maintained in a state of readiness,” the official added. “But simply being temporarily stranded does not automatically trigger a military evacuation. We will first exhaust available commercial and diplomatic options. If the situation becomes truly urgent, we are prepared to act.”

A Joint Chiefs of Staff official said during a regular defense ministry briefing earlier in the day that there were no safety concerns involving overseas deployed units or personnel.

“The situation is being managed in a stable manner, and units are carrying out their missions as normal,” the official said.

Regarding the possibility that Iran’s threat to close the Strait of Hormuz could affect the operational area or duties of the Cheonghae Unit deployed in nearby waters, the official declined to disclose details.

“For security reasons, we cannot reveal the unit’s location,” the official said, adding that the military is closely monitoring developments.