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| ▲ Rep. Kim Young-bae (R) of the ruling Democratic Party attends a meeting between government officials and lawmakers to discuss the situation in the Middle East at the National Assembly on March 3, 2026. (Yonhap) |
(LEAD) S Koreans-Middle East
(LEAD) Some 21,000 S. Koreans currently in Middle East amid U.S.-Israeli war with Iran
(ATTN: ADDS more info in last 2 paras; RECASTS headline, lead para)
By Yi Wonju
SEOUL, March 3 (Yonhap) -- Around 21,000 South Korean nationals are currently staying in the Middle East amid escalating tensions in the region following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, officials said Tuesday, adding that the government and the foreign ministry have been in communication to secure their return.
Government officials are communicating through various channels to see whether South Koreans, including residents and short-term visitors, can be relocated to neighboring countries or be transported back home, they said.
"Approximately 21,000 South Korean nationals are staying in 13 Middle Eastern countries and about 4,000 short-term visitors are estimated to be in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), particularly in Dubai," Rep. Kim Young-bae of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) said in a press briefing following a meeting between government officials and DP lawmakers at the National Assembly.
A total of 59 South Koreans, excluding embassy staff, remain in Iran, while another 616 nationals are currently residing in Israel.
"It is difficult to assess how long the situation will last so we are first identifying the number of travelers who require urgent measures," he said. "We will review ways to relocate them to countries whose airspace remains open."
Iran, Israel, Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait have closed their airspace following the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, according to Kim.
The government is also putting all-out efforts to secure oil supplies from outside the Middle East following Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a major logistics hub.
Around 30 South Korean crude oil tankers and commercial vessels are currently in the Middle East, according to the lawmaker.
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