President Yoon meets heroes of "Operation Promise."

Those that took part in ″Operation Promise″ taking a selfie with President Yoon Suk Yeol on Monday at Yongsan. It was Yoon's first official meeting since returning from U.S. [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE]

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Monday met with the soldiers and diplomats that played a central role in the mission “Operation Promise,” which evacuated 28 Koreans as well as five Japanese out of the war torn Sudan last week.

It was the first meeting that President Yoon had since returning from his weeklong trip in the U.S. as state guest.

“The lives and safety of Korean people is top priority,” President Yoon said in meeting those that engaged in the evacuation mission. “Even those living abroad are no exception.”

The president’s spokesman Lee Do-hoon noted that President Yoon thanked the men and women from both the military and foreign ministry for safely and swiftly rescuing the Koreans on the field.

“The mission was successful because everyone working on the frontline have done all you can,” Yoon said noting that he was closely monitoring the situation from Air Force One while crossing the Pacific on his way to Washington.

President Yoon stressed that the mission was the result of Korea’s diplomatic capacity and the deep trust Korea has built with friendly countries not only the U.S. but the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia including securing the harbor for the evacuees to travel out and intelligence information that helped them avoid paths considered dangerous.

It took the evacuees 33 hours in traveling 850 kilometers from Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, to Port Sudan before boarding a plane out to Jeddah.

“Especially,, it is very meaningful that we were able to evacuate Japanese, which is an opportunity to build our cooperation with friendly countries,” Yoon said.

According to the president’s office, 14 people from the military including Air Force Lt. Col. Jo Joo-young as well as the army’s 707th special mission group and six diplomats such as Namgoong Hwan.

BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]