South Korea Coordinates Emergency Evacuations as Middle East Tensions Escalate
Seoul is actively working to ensure the safety of its citizens in the Middle East amid heightened regional tensions, with approximately 90 Korean nationals already evacuated from Iran and Israel. The South Korean government is preparing to deploy chartered and military transport planes, along with additional rapid response teams, to facilitate the return of citizens stranded in the region, particularly those in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other affected countries.
Emergency Response Measures
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Jin-ah announced on March 4th that the government is continuously assessing the situation and collaborating with relevant ministries to ensure the safe and swift return of Korean citizens. These efforts include providing necessary consular assistance and assisting those who wish to evacuate to neighboring countries.
Recent evacuation efforts have seen 24 Korean nationals moved from Iran to Turkmenistan and 66 from Israel to Egypt. Two citizens in Iraq and ten in Bahrain have been relocated to Turkey and Saudi Arabia, respectively, with the assistance of local Korean embassies. These movements were conducted with a high degree of discretion, particularly in Iran where internet access was limited, relying on satellite phones for communication.
Government Coordination and Support
An emergency inter-agency meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, was held to review the situation and coordinate the government’s response. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is deploying all available resources to prevent harm to Korean citizens in the Middle East. Rapid response teams dispatched from the Ministry headquarters are assisting with evacuation efforts, and the Korean embassies are providing support, including meals for travelers during the journey, particularly important during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
Notable Evacuees
Among those evacuated from Iran were Lee Do-hee, head coach of Iran’s national women’s volleyball team, and Lee Ki-je, a former Korean national team player active in Iran’s professional football league.
Ongoing Monitoring and Preparedness
The government continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the Middle East and is prepared to take further measures to protect its citizens. Vice Minister Kim emphasized the importance of maintaining constant communication between headquarters and diplomatic missions to ensure the safety of overseas Koreans. Approximately 100 Korean residents remain in Iran, and the government is maintaining contact with them.
As of March 4, 2026, no reports of harm to Korean citizens in Iran have been received.