Approximately 6,300 Korean nationals departed from 14 Middle Eastern countries over the past week, South Korea's foreign ministry confirmed.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a meeting of the Overseas Nationals Protection Task Force on Thursday with representatives from 14 diplomatic missions in the Middle East. Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jin-ah chaired the meeting.
The number of Koreans staying in the Middle East has been declining as commercial flights from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar resumed operations.
The ministry said the number of Korean residents across 14 Middle Eastern countries fell to approximately 14,700 as of Wednesday from around 21,000 on April 3. Short-term visitors in particular dropped to 2,100 from 4,100 during the same period.
Inquiries related to the Middle East situation received by the Consular Call Center also fell to 22 on April 9 from 183 on April 1.
Evacuation support for Korean nationals in the region continues. The Korean Embassy in Iraq coordinated with the Iraqi government and border checkpoints to help 17 people—including Korean residents and one foreign employee of a Korean company—depart for Kuwait on Wednesday.
The embassy also plans to assist 12 more Koreans evacuating to Kuwait and Turkey on Thursday. Three Koreans departing for Turkey will travel to the border in armored vehicles provided by the embassy, accompanied by diplomatic staff.
The Korean Embassy in Kuwait dispatched officials to the border between the two countries to assist with immigration procedures and interpretation for the 17 individuals who arrived from Iraq on Wednesday.
Vice Minister Kim commended embassy staff for their efforts in facilitating the return of 322 Koreans from Qatar on an emergency flight early Thursday morning. She urged thorough protection of overseas nationals.
Kim also called for close coordination among diplomatic missions to ensure the second phase of evacuations from Iran and Israel proceeds smoothly in the coming days.