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Korea imposes travel ban on entirety of Iran due to rising Middle East conflict

Published: 05 Mar. 2026, 19:19

The Iranian national flag flies during a special session of an International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors meeting in Vienna on March 2. [AP/YONHAP]

Korea imposed a travel ban on all of Iran amid rising security concerns linked to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday.

“This measure designates all of Iran as a travel ban area,” the ministry said. “Korean nationals who visit or stay in Iran without exceptional permission to use their passports may face punishment under the Passport Act. We urge citizens planning to travel to the country to cancel their trips and those currently in Iran to leave the country.

“The government will continue to closely monitor developments in the Middle East and take necessary measures to ensure the safety of Korean nationals.”

The travel ban on Iran is part of efforts to protect Korean nationals as tensions escalate in the Middle East following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and prompted Iran to launch missile and drone attacks across the region.

Korea continues to evacuate its citizens from the area. About 140 nationals were brought to safety in earlier operations.

The government is also actively considering sending a chartered plane to the region, including the United Arab Emirates, where more than 2,000 Korean short-term travelers, such as tourists, remain stranded due to flight disruptions.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN, YONHAP [[email protected]]