Domestic Evacuation Operation of Afghans Reminiscent of the Movie 'Mogadishu'

청, Explanation of the Background for Afghan Nationals' Transfer to Korea... "Colleagues Who Worked Together Felt Threatened and Requested Help from Korea"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] "Initially, we considered sending a foreign-registered commercial aircraft, but the situation in Kabul, Afghanistan deteriorated rapidly, so we decided to use military transport planes."

A Blue House official said this on the 25th regarding the background of the operation to transfer Afghans who assisted Korea to the country. Just like in the movie 'Mogadishu,' where Koreans dramatically escaped through the local civil war, the situation in Afghanistan also unfolded urgently.

The government made efforts not only for the safety of our citizens and embassy staff but also for the escape of Afghans who had helped Korea.

The Blue House official said, "After the Afghanistan crisis occurred, our top priority was the safety of our citizens. We focused most on supporting their safe departure, followed by ensuring the embassy staff could leave safely."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Blue House official explained, "The embassy, KOICA, the Korean hospital we operated in Bagram, the staff training center, and the Korean Provincial Reconstruction Team in Charikar?all these Afghans who worked with us requested help, saying they felt their lives were in danger and asked to be brought to Korea." "These people are our colleagues who worked with us, and we have a moral responsibility for their serious situation."

This means that the difficulties faced by Afghans who helped Korea could not be ignored.

The Blue House official said, "As an advanced human rights country with an international standing, and after reviewing what countries in similar positions are doing, we examined how to bring these individuals to Korea." We held continuous consultations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on-site and our Ministry of National Defense, and there was extensive and close cooperation within the government."

The Blue House official added, "Since the end of August was a kind of deadline, we hurried a bit, thinking that if time was delayed, these people might not be able to leave or it would become very difficult for them to do so." There were various circumstances, but more people were able to come than expected."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Blue House clarified that the status of Afghans transferred to Korea is not refugees but special merit recipients. A Blue House official said, "These individuals will enter the country as special merit recipients, not as refugees. It is a separate special stay permit system." Accepting them as refugees requires a separate refugee screening process."

The Blue House official said, "Once they arrive in Korea, they can apply for refugee status under the Refugee Act according to their personal wishes." After entry, the Ministry of Justice will mainly handle the procedures, and decisions regarding settlement support and other matters will be made gradually."

Meanwhile, regarding the temporary living facilities for Afghans, the Blue House explained, "We reviewed the capacity, available facilities, and duration of use, and found that the National Human Resources Development Institute for Government Officials in Jincheon, Chungbuk, could fully meet the demand. It was a matter of utilizing available government resources."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.