Seoul: About 140 South Koreans have been evacuated from Iran, Israel, and other Middle Eastern nations as the conflict between the U.S.-Israel and Iran intensifies, according to the foreign ministry. The escalating situation has led to fears of a broader regional conflict, prompting the evacuations.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the foreign ministry reported that 113 South Koreans, including 47 short-term travelers, were evacuated from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv on Tuesday via a land route and arrived safely in Egypt. From there, they traveled to Cairo. The South Korean Embassy arranged for a chartered bus to transport those residing in Israel to the border, where they were joined by others on short-term stays.
In a separate evacuation, 24 South Koreans left Tehran early Monday and crossed into Turkmenistan by Tuesday. They are currently en route to Ashgabat, with plans to return home or proceed to another destination. Additionally, two South Koreans evacuated from Bahrain to Saudi Arabia, and two others from Iraq to Turkey.
The evacuations come as U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran have escalated, drawing in neighboring countries like Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Lebanon. Iran has responded by launching missiles at Israel, while Israel has conducted strikes on Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The evacuations were coordinated at the request of those wishing to leave, a ministry official stated, adding that further measures would be considered if additional demands arise. Notable evacuees include Lee Do-hee, a coach for the Iranian women's national team, and Lee Ki-je, a defender for Mes Rafsanjan FC. The group also included embassy officials, their families, ethnic Koreans of other nationalities, and some Iranians connected to Korean nationals.
Prior to the evacuation, approximately 600 South Koreans, including about 100 short-term visitors, were in Israel. Around 40 South Koreans remain in Iran. Despite the volatile situation, Seoul officials have indicated there are no current plans to withdraw embassy personnel. Rapid response teams comprised of embassy and foreign ministry officials have been deployed to assist with the evacuation efforts.