President Lee Jae-myung ordered Prime Minister Kim Min-seok to maintain an emergency response system during his visit to Singapore and the Philippines, the Blue House announced on May 1.
Before departing for the four-day trip, President Lee received a briefing on the Iran situation and instructed officials to "regularly report on developments in the Middle East and their economic impact, while ensuring the safety of Korean nationals abroad," according to the Blue House statement.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported no Korean casualties as of May 1. Approximately 60 Korean nationals are currently in Iran and 600 in Israel. The ministry said it would "closely monitor airspace closures and flight operations in Iran, Israel, and neighboring countries while continuing to provide consular assistance."
The United States and Israel conducted airstrikes on Iran on April 28. President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that "Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, is dead," calling it "justice for all Americans and victims worldwide killed or maimed by Khamenei and his bloodthirsty gang of thugs."
Iran's government confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, declaring 40 days of mourning and one week of public holidays. Iranian state media reported that multiple family members, including Khamenei's daughter, grandchildren, daughter-in-law, and son-in-law, also died in the attack.
The Blue House stated it is "closely monitoring developments and taking various measures to ensure the safety of Korean nationals abroad," expressing hope for "the swift restoration of stability and peace in the Middle East."