Remaining 13 Afghan Allies Also Arrive in Korea Today... Safe Rescue of All Near Completion

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The remaining personnel among the Afghan aides who were unable to participate in the first transport will enter South Korea through Incheon Airport on the 27th.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a military transport plane carrying 13 remaining Afghan aides departed Islamabad Airport in Pakistan at around 7 p.m. Korean time on the 26th and is scheduled to arrive at Incheon Airport at 1:20 p.m. on the 27th.

With the arrival of these 13 individuals added to the 378 who previously arrived in Korea, all 391 people from 76 Afghan aide households will have been safely evacuated.

After undergoing quarantine measures such as PCR testing at the airport, those who test negative will be moved to the National Human Resources Development Institute for Public Officials in Jincheon, Chungbuk, where they will stay for 6 to 8 weeks.

The Afghan aides entered the country on short-term visas as special contributors, not as refugees. The Ministry of Justice will soon grant them a residence status (F-1) that allows long-term stay after entry. Subsequently, through revisions to enforcement ordinances and other measures, they are expected to be issued residence (F-2) visas that permit long-term stay and employment, enabling stable life in Korea.

Most of the 391 Afghan aides from 76 families are families centered around young couples. Among them, about 100 are children under the age of five, and there are reportedly three newborns less than one month old. The majority are those who assisted with interpretation and administrative work at the Afghan Embassy, as well as medical personnel such as doctors and nurses, and professionals like engineers.

Park Soo-hyun, Chief of Communication at the Blue House, previously appeared on TBS Radio's "Kim Eo-jun's News Factory" and stated, "We must first take proper measures to ensure they do not experience discomfort upon arrival, and then establish a comprehensive plan for their lives thereafter." He also announced plans to provide support for minimum living expenses, medical care, housing, education, and employment.

Meanwhile, on the 26th (local time), a suicide bombing occurred at Kabul Airport in Afghanistan, where the withdrawal of remaining U.S. and allied personnel is underway. The attack resulted in numerous casualties, including 13 U.S. military deaths and 60 Afghan deaths. The extremist armed group Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack, and U.S. President Biden declared retaliatory strikes against IS.

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