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About 6,300 Koreans leave Middle East over past 7 days

Published: 11 Mar. 2026, 08:44 Updated: 11 Mar. 2026, 16:52

Foreign Ministry officials hold a meeting to discuss measures to protect overseas Koreans in this photo released by the ministry on March 10. [MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS]

About 6,300 Korean nationals have left countries across the Middle East over the past seven days amid the ongoing military conflict in the region, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

The number of Koreans remaining in 14 countries in the region stood at about 14,700 as of Monday, down from some 21,000 last Tuesday, the ministry said, as many seek to return to their home country due to the widening conflict.

The number of Korean short-term travelers in those countries fell to roughly 2,100 from around 4,100 over the same period, according to the ministry.

The ministry has been making efforts to help Koreans safely leave the region.

The Korean Embassy in Iraq helped 17 people, including one foreign national, depart for Kuwait on Monday.

A special flight carrying 322 Koreans arrived home early Tuesday after departing from Qatar.

Meanwhile, the ministry said an additional 38 Koreans in Israel were evacuated to Egypt on Tuesday. The group, which also included one Korean American, left Jerusalem earlier in the day aboard a bus arranged by the Korean government.

Last Tuesday, 66 Korean nationals in Israel left the country aboard a chartered bus to Egypt.

Yonhap