South Korean nationals stranded in the Middle East due to the ongoing crisis are being assisted by local diplomatic missions to evacuate to safer areas. The South Korean foreign ministry reported that 65 individuals who were in Qatar have safely relocated to Saudi Arabia. In Jordan, 41 short-term visitors from South Korea have left the country with the help of the South Korean Embassy.
In Kuwait, 14 South Korean nationals and one foreign spouse have also been supported in traveling to Saudi Arabia by the embassy. The ministry mentioned that they have facilitated the movement of South Koreans from various parts of the region, including Iran, Israel, Bahrain, and Iraq, to neighboring countries for their return home.
On March 6, over 370 South Koreans returned home on a direct flight from Dubai, marking the first such flight since recent US-Israeli air strikes on Iran. The flight, carrying 422 passengers, including 372 South Koreans, arrived at Incheon International Airport. The South Korean government coordinated with the UAE authorities to ensure the safe return of its citizens from the Middle East on direct flights.
Currently, an estimated 18,000 South Koreans are in 14 Middle Eastern nations, with 4,900 being short-term travelers. Among them, 3,500 are facing difficulties due to flight cancellations. Upon their return, the travelers were reunited with their families at the airport, expressing relief after days of uncertainty and recounting experiences of hearing drone interceptions and bombings.
