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89 Koreans evacuated from Iran and Israel amid military strikes

Published: 04 Mar. 2026, 00:58 Updated: 04 Mar. 2026, 09:31

SARAH KIM
[email protected]

Korean nationals and staffers of the Korean Embassy in Iran prepare to leave Tehran on March 2, evacuating the country following U.S.-Israeli strikes. [FOREIGN MINISTRY]

A total of 89 Koreans were evacuated from Iran and Israel to Turkmenistan and Egypt amid escalating tensions in the region following U.S.-Israeli military strikes, Seoul's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

The ministry said a group of 23 Koreans departed Tehran early Monday by land, boarding two buses chartered by the Korean Embassy in Iran to head to Turkmenistan.

After spending one night at an intermediate stop, they crossed the border into Turkmenistan on Tuesday evening and completed immigration procedures safely.

They then headed to the Turkmenistan capital of Ashgabat on a chartered bus arranged by the Korean Embassy in Turkmenistan and are expected to depart individually for Korea or a third country Wednesday.

The evacuees included not only Korean nationals residing in Iran but more than 10 embassy staffers and their family members.

In Turkmenistan, the group was met by embassy staffers and a rapid response team, including Foreign Ministry officials, dispatched to assist with the evacuation process. The rapid response team, in collaboration with the embassy, is assisting with entry procedures and providing necessary consular assistance, including local accommodations and flight information.

Some ethnic Koreans and several Iranian family members of the evacuees were also part of the group, as were Lee Ki-je, a Korean defender playing for Iran's Mes Rafsanjan FC, and Lee Do-hee, the Korean coach of the Iranian women's national volleyball team.

A group of 66 Korean nationals, embassy staffers and Korean Americans depart from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in Israel on March 3 and arrive at a border checkpoint on a chartered bus to head to Egypt. [FOREIGN MINISTRY]

Another group of 66 people, including Korean nationals residing in Israel, were evacuated to Egypt, the Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry said that 66 people residing in Israel departed from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem on buses chartered by the Korean Embassy in Israel. They arrived at the Israeli border checkpoint on Tuesday evening and safely completed entry procedures.

The Korean Embassy in Egypt plans to support their journey from the Egyptian border to Cairo. The Foreign Ministry also dispatched a rapid response team to Egypt to provided needed assistance.

The evacuees include Korean nationals, including embassy staffers and their families, and four Korean Americans.

BY SARAH KIM [[email protected]]