Around 21,000 South Korean citizens are currently in the Middle East amidst heightened tensions in the region due to recent US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran. Government officials are exploring options to relocate these individuals to neighboring countries or bring them back home. Representative Kim Young-bae of the ruling Democratic Party revealed that among the South Koreans, about 4,000 short-term visitors are in the United Arab Emirates, mainly in Dubai.
There are 59 South Korean nationals, excluding embassy personnel, still in Iran, with an additional 616 residing in Israel. The situation’s duration remains uncertain, prompting authorities to identify travelers needing urgent assistance and considering ways to move them to countries with open airspace. Several countries, including Iran, Israel, Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait, have closed their airspace following the US-Israeli attacks on Iran.
The United States and Israel conducted a joint military operation against Iran, targeting Iranian leadership, nuclear facilities, and military infrastructure. The operation, known as ‘Epic Fury’ by the US and ‘Lion’s Roar’ by Israel, commenced after unsuccessful US-Iran talks on Tehran’s nuclear program. Iran, emphasizing the peaceful nature of its nuclear activities, has faced retaliatory strikes and reports of civilian casualties in response to the ongoing conflict.
