"We Will Protect Our People to the Very End"...Military Transport Aircraft on Standby for Evacuation, Says Defense Ministry

[The Financial News] In response to airstrikes by the Islamic Republic of Iran and growing instability in the Middle East, the South Korean military has begun preparing the option of deploying military transport aircraft to ensure the safe evacuation of Korean nationals.
On the 3rd, the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Korea announced that it has decided to immediately deploy military assets if necessary, placing the safety of Korean residents overseas as its top priority. The move is seen as a strong declaration that the government will protect its citizens to the very end, without limiting the tools at its disposal.
Responding to a question on whether the ministry is considering sending military transport aircraft, Jeong Bit-na, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Korea, said, "At a situation assessment meeting he chaired on the 2nd, the previous day, Minister Ahn Kyu-baek ordered that, if a request is made to assist with the evacuation of Korean nationals, military assets must be deployed immediately so they can carry out their mission."
She added, "We are making thorough preparations, but as far as I understand, no request for support has been received yet."
Previously, the South Korean government deployed a KC-330 Cygnus aerial refueling and transport aircraft of the Air Force in 2023 to help Korean nationals return home during the conflict between the State of Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas, and again in 2024 when the State of Israel carried out airstrikes on Lebanon.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, about 60 South Korean nationals are currently staying in the Islamic Republic of Iran, and around 600 are in the State of Israel. Roughly 10,700 South Koreans are residing in 10 Middle Eastern countries in total, and the number is believed to be even higher when including short-term travelers.
Meanwhile, the Cheonghae Unit is reported to be carrying out its mission as usual to protect South Korean vessels and nationals in the Strait of Hormuz near the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic chokepoint through which about 20% of the world’s seaborne crude oil passes, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has threatened to attack ships attempting to transit the area.
Col. Jang Do-young, public affairs director of the Republic of Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff (ROK JCS), stated, "For security reasons, we cannot disclose the current location of the Cheonghae Unit, but we are closely monitoring any changes in the situation," adding, "We are maintaining full readiness so that the unit can be deployed immediately if ordered."
He went on to say, "The Cheonghae Unit is in constant communication and cooperation with relevant merchant vessels, both through regular contact and in various other ways."
He also noted, "There are currently no issues regarding the safety of our overseas deployed units and service members. We are managing the situation in a stable manner, and they are carrying out their missions normally."
The government plans to take concrete steps such as arranging evacuation routes for local residents who wish to leave. Although no formal requests for assistance have been received so far through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or other channels, the military is reported to have already completed checks on available personnel and transport aircraft so they can take off at short notice.
Building on the rapid response it demonstrated during Operation Promise, the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Korea is again preparing to implement the most effective evacuation plan possible, tailored to the level of risk facing Korean nationals.

wangjylee@fnnews.com Lee Jong-yoon Reporter