163 Koreans evacuated from Israel on military aircraft

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163 Koreans evacuated from Israel on military aircraft

Published: 14 Oct. 2023, 13:05 Updated: 15 Oct. 2023, 13:42

Korean military officials help Koreans board the military aircraft at the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel on Friday. According to the Korean government, 163 Koreans boarded the Korean Air Force’s KC-330. [MINISTRY OF DEFENSE]

A total of 163 Koreans were evacuated from Israel by boarding a military aircraft on Saturday.

The evacuation took place amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas, with the Israeli military on the verge of sending in the ground troops into Gaza.

According to the Korean Foreign Ministry, a total of 163 Koreans boarded the military aircraft KC-330 on Friday. The aircraft is to arrive late Saturday.

The passengers were composed of 81 long-term residents and 82 short-term visitors.

Earlier in the week, a first group of 192 Koreans was evacuated from the region, just four days after the sudden attack by the militant Palestinian group Hamas.

As of Saturday, the Korean government has identified 450 Koreans who are still in Israel, with 440 of them being long-term residents.

The Korean Foreign Ministry has confirmed the safety of these individuals in the region and has stated its willingness to provide assistance, including air flights, for those who wish to leave Israel.

A Korean military official greets a young passenger that were boarding the Korean military aircraft KC-330 at the Ben Gurion Airport on Friday [MINISTRY OF DEFENSE]

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