The South Korean government issued a strong evacuation and departure advisory for Korean nationals and businesses in the Middle East as military tensions in the region reached their peak.
Kim Jin-a, Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, convened an emergency meeting of the Overseas Nationals Protection Task Force on Wednesday afternoon, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Kim reviewed the status of major energy facilities in the Middle East and called on overseas diplomatic missions and relevant government agencies to mount an all-out response to ensure the safety of Korean nationals in the region.
The measure reflects the gravity of the situation after the United States delivered an ultimatum-style warning to Iran, threatening to destroy power plants if Tehran does not open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. "We must keep in mind the possibility of full-scale military conflict and monitor in real time the status of nationals and Korean businesses located near energy facilities in the region," Kim said.
"Activate all available communication channels to disseminate safety notices frequently, and strongly urge personnel staying in the region to promptly evacuate to third countries or return home," she added. Accordingly, each overseas diplomatic mission has entered emergency duty mode and plans to maximize consular assistance for the safe withdrawal of nationals in the event of a contingency.
The South Korean Embassy in Iraq reported that it has been assisting the emergency evacuation of approximately 20 expatriates to neighboring countries from Wednesday through Thursday. The embassy is working closely with the Iraqi government and border checkpoints to secure safe exit routes for Korean nationals.
Kim also reviewed the potential impact of the crisis on domestic energy supply and the broader national economy. "Given that energy security could be threatened, let us maintain close coordination among relevant ministries and agencies and further strengthen our economic preparedness," she said.
