'Middle East Situation Unstable' Government Prioritizes Safety of Overseas Koreans... Preparing for Worst-Case Scenario

Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha holds emergency video conference with local missions... Task force reviews step-by-step action plans
Ministry of National Defense holds emergency meeting chaired by Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo
Blue House "Closely coordinating with authorities regarding safety of overseas Koreans"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The South Korean government's response to potential crises amid the volatile situation in the Middle East, a global powder keg, is intensifying. Although the risk of military conflict has temporarily eased after the United States chose economic sanctions over military retaliation in response to Iran's missile attacks targeting U.S. forces, it is still too early to feel secure. Accordingly, related ministries including the Blue House, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of National Defense are holding daily meetings to prepare for the worst-case scenarios, examining measures to protect overseas nationals and the potential impacts on the economy from multiple angles.

In particular, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a 'caution' level crisis alert related to the protection of overseas nationals, upgraded travel warnings for certain regions in Iran, and is preparing for the worst by overseeing local safety measures through the Overseas Korean Consular Office.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 9th, Minister Kang Kyung-wha held an emergency video conference the previous afternoon with the ambassadors to Iran, Iraq, and Israel to receive reports on the local situation, review the response system between headquarters and diplomatic missions, and urged preparation for the worst-case scenario. Minister Kang emphasized, "As tensions in the Middle East escalate, while preparing for the worst, diplomatic missions must establish a 24-hour response system to ensure the safety of our citizens and companies, and maintain organic cooperation with the ministry’s task force and related ministries."

Since the 5th, the ministry’s internal task force, chaired by First Vice Minister Cho Se-young, has been holding daily meetings to review action plans according to the situation stages. The task force includes the Economic Diplomacy Coordinator, Director of the North American Affairs Bureau, Director of the Africa and Middle East Bureau, and the Overseas Safety Management Planning Officer, who promptly report meeting outcomes to the minister. A ministry official explained, "The task force, which was launched earlier, is operating in relation to the attacks on U.S. military bases in Iran, assessing the extent of damage and preparing additional measures."

On the ground in the Middle East, Lee Sang-jin, head of the Overseas Korean Consular Office, is overseeing safety measures for overseas nationals. Lee arrived in Amman, Jordan, the previous day, initially to preside over a consular meeting, but as the local situation intensified, he has been focusing on devising response plans related to Iran’s retaliatory attacks on U.S. military bases. Lee is scheduled to hold a consular meeting responsible for incidents and accidents in the Middle East to discuss strengthening protection measures for overseas Koreans in the region.

However, due to concerns about causing excessive anxiety, the ministry is cautious about evacuation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that since the areas where Koreans mainly reside are about 150 km away from the U.S. military bases attacked by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, it is not yet time to consider evacuation, but they are monitoring the situation with various possibilities in mind. The number of Koreans residing in the region is approximately 1,570 in Iraq, 290 in Iran, 700 in Israel (a U.S. ally), and 150 in Lebanon, where the pro-Iranian militant group Hezbollah is active.

Additionally, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs upgraded the travel warning for some regions in Iran from Level 1 Blue Alert to Level 2 Yellow Alert. The Level 3 Red Alert remains in effect for Sistan-Baluchestan Province, the Turkey-Iraq border area, and three provinces along the Persian Gulf coast, where it had previously been issued.

The Ministry of National Defense also held an emergency countermeasure meeting the previous afternoon, chaired by Minister of National Defense Jeong Kyeong-doo, with key officials including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Park Han-ki and Vice Minister of National Defense Park Jae-min. They evaluated the current Middle East situation’s impact on overseas Koreans and deployed troops, future outlooks, and security conditions on the Korean Peninsula, discussing related countermeasures extensively.

Joint working-level meetings among related ministries are also being held continuously. On the 6th, ministries including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Security Office, Office for Government Policy Coordination, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Ministry of National Defense, and Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries held the first working-level countermeasure meeting to discuss comprehensive responses to economic impacts from rising oil prices and protection of overseas nationals and companies, with plans to continue related meetings.

A senior Blue House official said, "We are receiving reports on all situations moment by moment," adding, "We will closely coordinate with authorities regarding the safety of Korean residents abroad." A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official explained, "We are maintaining a 24-hour emergency response system centered on the Middle East situation task force and the Overseas Safety Protection Center, in close cooperation with overseas diplomatic missions and related ministries."

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

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