"South Korea Was Free, But Japan Government Charged Citizens for Transport Costs, Facing Backlash"

Eight Japanese Nationals Who Escaped Israel Paid Costs
"Korean Transport Plane Was Free of Charge," Japanese Media Also Points Out

In Israel, where armed clashes with Hamas occurred, controversy has arisen after it was revealed that the Japanese government charged 30,000 yen (approximately 270,000 won) per person to Japanese nationals wishing to leave. In contrast, South Korea not only evacuated its citizens using a military transport plane but also transported about 50 Japanese nationals free of charge in the remaining seats.

Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, and Koreans along with other residents stranded in the area arrived at Seoul Airport in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on the night of the 14th, disembarking from the Korean Air Force's KC-330 'Cygnus' multipurpose aerial refueling transport aircraft.
Photo by Joint Press Corps
Photo by Joint Press Corps

According to local Japanese media including Kyodo News on the 16th (local time), the Japanese government reportedly charged 30,000 yen per person to eight Japanese evacuees who left Israel on a government-chartered flight that day. The media added, "Since the Korean transport flight was free of charge, critical voices arose among Japanese nationals staying in Israel."

Earlier, the South Korean Air Force dispatched the KC-330 "Cygnus" multipurpose aerial refueling transport aircraft to evacuate its nationals staying in Israel.

The transport plane was originally arranged for the return of Koreans, but since there were available seats, the government reportedly offered the Japanese side the opportunity to board Japanese nationals. As a result, 220 people including 163 Koreans, 51 Japanese, and 6 Singaporeans arrived in Korea on the night of the 14th aboard the Cygnus. The Japanese side is also said to have expressed gratitude for the Korean government's "preceding" assistance.

The South Korean Air Force did not charge passengers boarding the transport plane any fees. Consequently, some Japanese netizens criticized their government’s policy of a "paid charter flight."

One netizen pointedly remarked, "I don’t know if they have any awareness of protecting Japanese lives," adding, "Korea evacuated 51 Japanese to Seoul out of goodwill."

Palestinian armed faction Hamas's surprise attack on Israel left our nationals and other residents stranded, who arrived at Seoul Airport in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on the night of the 14th, disembarking from the Republic of Korea Air Force's KC-330 'Cygnus' multipurpose aerial refueling transport aircraft.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

In response, Japanese government spokesperson Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said at a press conference on the morning of the 16th, when asked by reporters whether charging 30,000 yen to passengers on the Japanese government’s charter flight was appropriate, "I think it was appropriate."

Meanwhile, the Japanese government is currently evacuating its nationals wishing to leave Israel using charter flights. However, in case charter flights are not feasible, Self-Defense Forces transport planes have also been deployed.

According to the Japanese media outlet Sankei Shimbun, since the 14th, Air Self-Defense Force transport planes have been stationed at the Self-Defense Forces base in Djibouti, an African country, and about 420 personnel have been deployed to ensure smooth aircraft operations.

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