Seoul reviews evacuation manual for embassy in Iran as reports of imminent US ground deployment spur Western pullout

[Financial News] The government is reportedly reviewing the evacuation manual for the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Most Western countries have already withdrawn, amid reports that United States of America (US) ground troops may soon be deployed to the region.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 19th, only four Western countries and allies remain in Iran: Republic of Korea (South Korea), Japan, Kingdom of Sweden, and Norway. Other Western countries have either relocated their embassies to neighboring states or closed them.
An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "We have an operational manual for situations in which the safety of an embassy cannot be guaranteed. We will respond in accordance with that manual." When safety can no longer be ensured, the final step in the manual is the evacuation of the embassy. Dozens of Korean nationals and their families are still in Iran. Many of them are reported to be reluctant to leave because they have married local residents and settled in the country.
On the 18th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a joint situation review meeting between its headquarters and the three missions to examine measures to protect overseas Korean nationals in Iran, Republic of Iraq, and Lebanon. The meeting was chaired by Yoon Joo-seok, Director-General for Consular Affairs and Safety.
Iran, Republic of Iraq, and parts of Lebanon are currently under a Level 4 travel advisory (travel ban), as they are areas where the level of risk to the lives and safety of South Korean nationals is extremely serious. As a result, those who remain in these areas are being urged to evacuate and leave the country immediately.
Yoon said, "Among countries in the Middle East, these three are particularly uncertain and dangerous, so each mission should more actively urge our nationals and companies to leave the country and provide any necessary support." He also reiterated his call for South Korean nationals staying in Lebanon to depart as soon as possible, noting that the situation on the ground is deteriorating, including the deployment of Israeli ground forces to Southern Lebanon.

rainman@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-soo Reporter