"Even if only one Korean remains, our embassy will not withdraw"...Evacuation of returnees begins

[The Financial News] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 3rd that it will not close South Korea’s embassies in the Islamic Republic of Iran and Israel until every Korean national wishing to leave has been evacuated, despite ongoing bombardments.
As the crisis in the Middle East worsens, countries have begun evacuating their citizens, and South Korea has also moved into emergency mode. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, about 20,000 South Korean nationals are staying in 13 countries across the Middle East. Among them, roughly 60 are in the Islamic Republic of Iran and about 500 are in Israel, where evacuation is considered most urgent.
An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "As long as even one Korean national remains, there are no plans to withdraw our embassies," stressing that the government will do its utmost to ensure their safety. The official added, "We are currently receiving applications from citizens who wish to return home," and continued, "We are taking the necessary steps in line with our evacuation plans." However, the official explained that it is difficult to share specific details at this stage because they concern the safety of citizens.
The South Korean Embassy in Tehran is reportedly located not far from the Islamic Republic of Iran’s state broadcasting station that was hit by airstrikes. During previous conflicts in Lebanon and the wider region, the embassy also remained in place to protect Korean nationals, even when air raids caused the building to shake as if an earthquake had struck.
The Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Korea said it may deploy military aircraft to help evacuate Korean nationals from the Middle East. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official noted, "We need to examine whether the airspace is closed or open, and whether we should first move our nationals to neighboring countries, among other factors." Regarding the roughly 30 South Korean vessels currently operating in the Strait of Hormuz, safety measures have reportedly begun under the lead of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF).

rainman@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-soo Reporter