South Korea Evacuates Citizens from Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
The South Korean government successfully evacuated 211 citizens, along with foreign family members and Japanese nationals, from the Middle East amid escalating tensions, particularly related to the conflict between the United States and Iran. The operation, dubbed “Desert Light,” saw the deployment of an Air Force KC-330 Cygnus aerial refueling and transport aircraft.
Evacuation Details
The KC-330 Cygnus departed from Gimhae Airport on March 14th and arrived at Riyadh Airport in Saudi Arabia the same day. It then departed for South Korea carrying 204 Korean citizens, 5 foreign family members and 2 Japanese nationals, arriving at Seongnam Seoul Airport on March 15th. As reported by Asia Today, the successful operation brought those stranded in a volatile region back to safety.
Evacuees were gathered from four countries – Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Lebanon – facing direct or indirect threats due to the escalating conflict. Koreans in Kuwait traveled to Riyadh by bus, while those in Lebanon arrived by air. The Gyeonggi Ilbo noted that approximately 60 personnel, including pilots, maintenance crews, and medical staff, accompanied the flight to ensure a safe and efficient evacuation.
Government Response and International Cooperation
The evacuation was initiated following a cabinet meeting on March 10th, where President Lee Jae-myung instructed officials to prioritize the safe evacuation of Korean citizens in the Middle East and to consider utilizing military aircraft. According to the Segye Ilbo, the government formed a dedicated response team involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and local embassies.
Securing airspace passage through over ten countries along the flight route was a critical component of the operation. The government successfully obtained approvals within a day, with direct communication between South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-baek with their Saudi counterparts to request active cooperation. NewsFirst reported that a 24-hour situation room was maintained by the Ministry of National Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff to monitor the aircraft’s progress and address potential crisis situations.
Previous Evacuation Efforts
This marks the seventh time the KC-330 Cygnus has been utilized for overseas personnel transport, including Korean residents. Notably, the same aircraft was used in 2024 to safely evacuate 96 citizens from Lebanon during Israel’s ground operation against Hezbollah.
The “Desert Light” operation underscores South Korea’s commitment to protecting its citizens abroad during times of international crisis.