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Seoul reviews evacuation routes for Koreans in Middle East amid Iran war

Published: 03 Mar. 2026, 17:01 Updated: 03 Mar. 2026, 17:54

Democratic Party Rep. Kim Young-bae, right, the ruling party’s secretary of the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, speaks with fellow committee member Rep. Han Jeoung-ae, the party’s policy chief, during a party-government consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Iran war at the National Assembly building in western Seoul on March 3. [YONHAP]

Seoul is reviewing evacuation routes and stepping up efforts to protect citizens as the Iran war expands, officials said Tuesday, with about 21,000 Koreans currently located in 13 Middle Eastern countries.

Democratic Party (DP) lawmakers of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs met in Yeouido in western Seoul to review the situation and coordinate responses.

Kim Young-bae, the committee’s DP floor leader, said some travelers in the region had reached out for help.

“We received urgent requests for help yesterday from Korean travelers in the United Arab Emirates [UAE] and checked the situation. We have identified about 2,000 travelers in Dubai alone,” Kim said after the meeting.

Koreans estimated to be in the region include roughly 4,000 short-term visitors and about 17,000 expatriates, he said.

A screen displays cancelled flights to Middle East destinations at Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong on March 2. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

Retaliatory attacks by Iran and the broader conflict have led several countries, including Iraq, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait, to close or restrict their airspace, complicating movement and evacuation plans.

Government agencies, including diplomatic missions, are contacting foreign counterparts to identify safe travel corridors, according to Kim.

“We decided to review options for moving to countries whose airspace remains open,” he said.

The Foreign Ministry estimates that 59 Koreans, excluding diplomatic staff, remain in Iran, the epicenter of airstrikes. In Israel, 616 Korean nationals, also excluding embassy personnel, are believed to be in the country.

The war erupted after coordinated U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran on Saturday targeted multiple military and strategic sites, including the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The strikes prompted retaliatory missile, drone and other attacks by Iran and allied militias across the region.

An aerial view of the Iranian shores and the island of Qeshm in the Strait of Hormuz on Dec. 10, 2023. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

Lawmakers are also watching economic ramifications, particularly risks to energy supplies and financial markets. Iran has said it will attack any ship trying to pass the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping route, stoking concerns about crude oil price spikes and volatility in Korea’s currency and markets.

Rep. Han Jeoung-ae, chair of the DP policy committee, said Korea has substantial reserves but acknowledged the need for contingency planning.

“We have secured about 200 days’ worth of crude oil and gas reserves, so we do not believe an immediate problem will arise. However, relevant authorities are working to secure appropriate alternative routes,” she said.

The Kospi is shown at a screen at Hana Bank's trading room in central Seoul on March 3. A temporary trading curb was activated after the Kospi plunged earlier in the day. [NEWS1]

Han said domestic markets have remained relatively stable but warned that prolonged conflict could affect investor confidence.

“This was a foreseeable situation, so we believe [the market] has not been affected significantly. But there are concerns about what could happen if the situation becomes prolonged,” she said. “If necessary, we will actively support the swift implementation of a market stabilization program worth more than 100 trillion won [$68.2 billion].”

DP lawmakers discussed holding joint sessions with multiple standing committees, including those dealing with foreign affairs, trade and economic policy, to coordinate a comprehensive response. The ruling DP said it would seek cooperation from the opposition People Power Party.

The Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee plans an urgent plenary session on Friday to question government officials on the conflict. Lawmakers are also exploring a high-level party-government meeting that would include the prime minister and DP leadership.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY OH SO-YEONG [[email protected]]