S. Korea urges nationals to immediately leave Iran, Israel
South Korea's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday raised its travel advisory for Iran and Israel, urging its nationals to leave the countries immediately in response to ongoing missile strikes between Israel and Iran.
Effective from 1 p.m. Wednesday, Seoul time, the updated travel alert expands the existing Level 3 advisory — which recommends departure — to cover the entire country.
Previously, the Level 3 alert, part of the four-tier travel advisory system in which Level 4 constitutes a travel ban, applied only to certain regions within Iran.
'Accordingly, South Korean nationals currently staying in Iran are advised to leave the country as quickly as possible, following guidance from the diplomatic mission, while paying special attention to their personal safety,' the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Around 100 South Korean nationals were residing in Iran as of June 12, according to data provided by the ministry.
The Foreign Ministry in Seoul also underscored that 'Those planning to travel to the region are asked to cancel or postpone their trips.'
The ministry added that "it will continue to closely monitor the situation in the Middle East and take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of our nationals."
With only the minimum essential staff present on-site at the South Korean embassy in Tehran, others are operating remotely, The Korea Herald learned from a diplomatic source.
"As of now, we are not considering withdrawing the embassy or taking similar measures," a Foreign Ministry official said on condition of anonymity.
Effective from 8 p.m. Tuesday, Seoul time, the Foreign Ministry raised areas in Israel previously under a special "red" travel advisory to Level 3.
The Level 3 alert and Level 4 travel ban, originally applied to certain regions, remain in effect, the ministry announced Tuesday evening.
Following the update, all of Israel is now under Level 3, except for the Gaza Strip and a 4-kilometer stretch along the northern border with Lebanon, which remain under Level 4.
On par with its advisory for Iran, the Foreign Ministry called on South Korean nationals to 'leave the country as soon as possible,' and urged those planning to travel to postpone or cancel their trips.
Twenty-three South Korean nationals evacuated Israel via a land route on Monday local time, in an effort spearheaded by the Korean community in Israel, with the South Korean Embassy providing "full support," another Foreign Ministry official said on condition of anonymity.
The official said the embassy covered the cost of the bus that transported the South Korean nationals, as well as the immigration procedures for their exit from Israel and entry into Jordan.
"With regard to the evacuation of our nationals in Israel, we are coming up with various measures for their safety at the current stage," the official added.
Israel on Monday warned hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate central Tehran, marking the first time in the four-day conflict that an evacuation warning has been issued for residential areas.
As the exchange of strikes continued into the fourth day of the escalating conflict that began on June 13, US President Donald Trump on Monday night cut short his participation in the G7 summit, departing Calgary, Canada, to return to Washington to focus on the crisis between Israel and Iran.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
6 hours ago
- Korea Herald
President Lee to post social media messages in both Korean, foreign languages to 'show respect'
President Lee Jae Myung will post diplomatic messages on social media in both Korean and the language of his counterpart, his office said Saturday. Before traveling to Canada for the Group of Seven summit in Canada earlier this week, Lee had ordered his staff to write social media posts in both Korean and foreign languages to "show our diplomatic respect and willingness to communicate," according to the office. Lee had also told his staff that his messages must reach South Korean residents living abroad and local citizens of those counterpart countries, his office said. On Lee's X page, an update on his summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba was written in both Korean and Japanese on Wednesday. On the same day, an X post detailing Lee's meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was uploaded in Korean and English. And a summary of Lee's talks with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum was provided in Korean and Spanish. The presidential office said Lee's social media posts will continue to be provided in multiple languages when detailing his overseas trips and meetings with other heads of state. "This will not be a temporary measure for only certain countries. It's part of the president's digital diplomatic strategy based on his philosophy on government administration," it said. "We hope his social media messages will help create a bond between peoples of different countries and serve as the starting point of diplomacy based on mutual respect." (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
11 hours ago
- Korea Herald
S. Korean, US diplomats agree on efforts for bilateral alliance, trilateral cooperation with Japan
Senior diplomats of South Korea and the United States agreed Friday to work together to strengthen their countries' alliance and trilateral cooperation with Japan during their talks in Washington, according to the South Korean Embassy in the US capital. South Korean Ambassador to the US Cho Hyun-dong met with new Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker at the State Department to discuss the bilateral alliance and a range of regional and global issues, the embassy said. Confirmed by the Senate earlier this month, Hooker is noted for her longtime experience in diplomacy with North Korea, including preparations for US President Donald Trump's summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his first term. "Sharing the understanding on the importance of close cooperation between South Korea and the US over North Korean issues, and of comprehensive bilateral cooperation, the two sides agreed to continue efforts to strengthen the Seoul-Washington alliance and enhance trilateral cooperation with Japan," the embassy wrote on Facebook. Cho described Hooker as a longtime expert on issues related to the Korean Peninsula and the alliance. "(Cho) asked Under Secretary Hooker -- a longtime friend of South Korea and strong backer of the South Korea-US alliance -- to continue to support efforts for the development of bilateral relations," it said The two sides agreed to closely cooperate to respond effectively to an array of global challenges, as they discussed the Israel-Iran conflict and Ukrainian issues, as well as challenges in the Indo-Pacific. Hooker previously served as senior director for Asian affairs at the National Security Council. She was deeply involved in preparations for Trump's summits with Kim in Singapore in June 2018, Hanoi in February 2019 and the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom in June 2019. From 2001-2014, Hooker served as a senior analyst for North Korea in the Department of State's Bureau of Intelligence and Research. She was also selected as the 2013-2014 Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs fellow in South Korea. (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
a day ago
- Korea Herald
UNESCO can multiply Korea's Hallyu model, Egypt's heritage, says director-general candidate
UNESCO has the potential to amplify cultural legacies of both Korea and Egypt, leveraging them as models of soft power and global cultural engagement, according to Khaled El-Enany, Egypt's former Minister of Tourism and Antiquities and a candidate for UNESCO director-general for the 2025–2029 term. 'The model developed by the Republic of Korea is remarkable, and I want to acknowledge its success,' El-Enany said in an interview with The Korea Herald during his visit to Seoul. 'Hallyu is not just a pop culture wave — it's a long-term cultural strategy, rooted in strong content, modern platforms and the ability to speak to diverse audiences across the world,' he said, praising Korea's global cultural strategy. He cited Hallyu as a "well-defined form of soft power" that many countries observe "closely and with respect.' He also underlined Egypt's global cultural resonance, citing ancient Egypt's influence in museums, entertainment and literature worldwide. 'Ancient Egypt is a global reference point — an enduring source of fascination that transcends borders and generations,' El-Enany said. He stressed that if elected, he would work to turn UNESCO into a platform for genuine, two-way cultural exchange. 'I do not believe in one-way cultural exports,' he said. 'I believe in structured, lasting, mutually enriching exchanges.' El-Enany highlighted Egypt and Korea's efforts to promote intercultural dialogue through UNESCO initiatives such as the Silk Roads project and commended Korea's leadership in digital heritage preservation, such as the Digital Homecoming Project and academic collaborations. He cited Korea's support as a strong example of long-term cultural strategy. According to El-Enany, cultural diplomacy begins with a willingness to listen, translate and share. Expressing admiration for Korea's financial and institutional contributions to UNESCO, El-Enany underscored Seoul's recent pledge of 5 billion won ($3.65 million) to support UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund. 'This represents a powerful gesture of solidarity. … It is exactly the kind of initiative that shows how Member States can act with vision and generosity to serve the common good,' he said. El-Enany said that if elected, he would deepen cooperation not only with Korea and Egypt but with all UNESCO Member States. 'UNESCO must remain a place of connection, creativity and shared global purpose,' he said. 'And in that sense, the relationship between Korea and Egypt can serve as a model.' sanjaykumar@
