Yoon orders measures to ensure safety of Koreans in Middle East as conflict worsens

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Yoon orders measures to ensure safety of Koreans in Middle East as conflict worsens

Published: 02 Oct. 2024, 17:16 Updated: 02 Oct. 2024, 17:17

SARAH KIM
kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr

President Yoon Suk Yeol, center, presides over an emergency meeting reviewing the economic and security risks of the Middle East crisis at the Yongsan presidential office in centrla Seoul on Wednesday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered the government to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of Korean nationals in regions affected by the escalating conflict in the Middle East at a meeting Wednesday monitoring any potential economic or security risks.

The president also ordered the immediate deployment of military transport aircraft to evacuate Korean nationals, calling on close cooperation with the international community to quickly restore stability in the Middle East.

Yoon convened an emergency meeting at the Yongsan presidential office with related agencies, including the ministers of finance, energy, foreign affairs and defense, as well as the chiefs of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), Financial Services Commission and the Bank of Korea, to assess the potential impact of the Middle East crisis on the economy and security.

On Tuesday, Iran launched around 180 ballistic missiles into Israel. This came after Israel's military said Saturday that it killed Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the Iran-backed group Hezbollah, and sent troops into Lebanon.

“We must carefully examine all scenarios that could result from a military conflict in the Middle East and prepare necessary measures without delay,” Yoon said. “We must do our best to ensure that our nationals in other countries can also receive protection from the Korean government wherever they are.”

Yoon highlighted the heightened uncertainty of the situation in the Middle East and ordered aides to keep open all possibilities for future developments and operate a 24-hour monitoring system in close cooperation between relevant ministries and agencies, according to the presidential office.

He also requested aides to comprehensively analyze and examine the impact and risk factors that may impact Korea’s overall economy and security, including energy supply and demand, import and export logistics and supply chains. He urged thorough preparedness to respond quickly and effectively when necessary.

This included reviewing the safety of overseas Koreans, Korean companies, troops deployed abroad and diplomatic missions.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]