Presidential Office Maintains Emergency Response Amid Middle East Crisis

Presidential Chief of Staff Hoon-sik Kang on the 2nd instructed relevant ministries to "maintain an airtight emergency response system while closely monitoring the possibility of prolonged tensions and their impact on the Korean economy" regarding the Middle East situation. In response to the Middle East crisis triggered by U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, the Presidential Office maintained emergency operations with all staff reporting to work on this day, a substitute holiday for the March 1st Independence Movement Day.

Kyu-yeon Lee, Senior Secretary for Public Relations and Communications at the Presidential Office, conveyed the results of the weekly staff meeting chaired by Chief of Staff Kang through a written briefing. Senior Secretary Lee said Chief of Staff Kang urged "the entire public sector to remain especially vigilant so that we can respond without faltering to any emergency situation, keeping in mind that President Jae-myung Lee is currently on an overseas trip."

According to Senior Secretary Lee, Chief of Staff Kang emphasized, "Make protecting the safety and lives of our citizens staying in the Middle East the top priority" and "ensure thorough measures for the safety of overseas Koreans."

Chief of Staff Kang also received detailed reports on media coverage and local developments related to the Middle East situation, global supply chain conditions, international energy prices, and domestic and foreign financial market trends. He reviewed the response plans and specific measures of the Joint Emergency Response Team led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Yoon-chul Koo, while also assessing the current Middle East situation and the status of government-level measures.

Senior Secretary Lee added, "The Presidential Office plans to continue implementing necessary measures in close cooperation with relevant ministries until the situation stabilizes."