Seoul considers airlift for nationals stranded in Middle East

South Korea is weighing the deployment of chartered planes or military transport aircraft to evacuate its citizens stranded in the Middle East amid the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran, a senior government official said.

Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina told reporters that the government is exploring multiple options, including sending additional joint rapid response teams, to ensure the safe return of South Korean nationals., Yonhap reports.

“The government is considering deploying chartered planes and military transport aircraft, as well as dispatching additional joint rapid response teams,” Kim said following an interagency meeting on government responses to the Middle East situation.

“We continue to assess the situation regarding South Korean nationals stranded in the United Arab Emirates and other countries, while reviewing various measures in coordination with relevant ministries to ensure they can return home swiftly and safely,” she added.

On March 2, Kim reported that roughly 17,000 South Koreans remain in about ten Middle Eastern countries affected by the conflict, excluding short-term travelers. The government has also begun relocating citizens to safer locations; on March 3, approximately 140 South Koreans and their foreign family members were evacuated from Iran, Israel, and Bahrain to neighboring countries.

“We will make every effort and mobilize all available resources and assets of the foreign ministry to ensure that no South Korean nationals are harmed amid the situation in the Middle East,” Kim said.

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, who chaired the interagency meeting, emphasized the need for detailed contingency plans in response to the conflict’s potential fallout. He highlighted the importance of safeguarding South Korean citizens in the Middle East, closely monitoring stock and currency markets, and proactively addressing any challenges faced by South Korean companies operating in the region.

Later in the day, the foreign ministry convened a meeting with embassy officials from 14 countries, including Iran, Israel, Turkmenistan, Egypt, and the UAE, to discuss strategies for repatriating citizens, particularly short-term travelers. Yoon Chu-sok, director general for overseas Koreans and consular affairs, urged the securing of safe channels for rapid departures amid commercial flight disruptions.

By Vafa Guliyeva