Seoul orders citizens to leave Iran, introduces full travel ban

South Korea has imposed a full travel ban on visits to Iran as security concerns intensify amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East, the foreign ministry said on March 5.

According to the ministry, cited by Korean media, the government upgraded its existing Level 3 travel alert, which advises citizens to leave a country, to a complete travel ban that took effect at 6:00 p.m. local time. The decision comes as tensions in the region have sharply risen following US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

The ministry warned that South Korean nationals who travel to or remain in Iran without official authorisation may face punishment under relevant laws. Authorities urged citizens planning trips to the region to cancel their travel plans and called on those currently in Iran to leave the country as soon as possible.

Explaining the decision, the ministry said the measure was introduced because “the worsening situation in the Middle East has raised serious concerns over the safety of Korean nationals visiting or staying in Iran.”

“The government will continue to closely monitor developments in the Middle East and take necessary measures to ensure the safety of Korean nationals,” the ministry added.

The travel ban comes as South Korea continues evacuation efforts for its citizens across the region. Earlier operations successfully brought around 140 nationals to safety as the confrontation triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran expands into a broader regional conflict.

Officials are also considering dispatching a chartered aircraft to assist additional evacuations from the region, including from the United Arab Emirates, where more than 2,000 South Korean short-term travellers remain stranded due to widespread flight disruptions.

By Tamilla Hasanova