As the Middle East crisis continues to unfold, a steady stream of Korean citizens who were stranded in the region are now returning home or being evacuated. On March 8, the government announced its first official charter flight to assist in repatriating citizens since the outbreak of the crisis.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that an Etihad Airways charter flight carrying 290 Korean nationals is scheduled to depart Abu Dhabi at 5:00 p.m. (Korean time), with an expected arrival at Incheon International Airport in the early hours of Monday. This marks the first charter flight arranged by the Korean government in collaboration with United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities, coming eight days after the eruption of hostilities in the Middle East.
Given the limited seating capacity, the government has prioritized boarding for critically ill patients, individuals with disabilities, pregnant women, infants, and the elderly. It’s estimated that approximately 3,000 Korean short-term residents are currently in the UAE. The government plans to charge passengers fees comparable to standard UAE route costs.
In a related development, Emirates Airlines resumed its direct flights from Dubai to Korea on March 6, following a temporary suspension due to the Iran situation. This resumption stems from negotiations between the Korean government and UAE authorities to reinstate one commercial flight per day.
On the first day of resumed service, March 6, 372 Korean nationals touched down on home soil. Another direct flight is expected to land at Incheon International Airport around 5:00 p.m. on March 7.
With the introduction of charter flights and the resumption of commercial services, it’s anticipated that all affected individuals will be able to return home within a week.
However, flight operations, including charter services, remain subject to sudden changes. The U.S. and Israel have warned of potential large-scale airstrikes against Iran, while Iran continues to threaten retaliation against U.S. military bases in neighboring countries.
On March 7, U.S. President Donald Trump escalated tensions by warning on his X (formerly Twitter) account that Iran would face a very strong blow today. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized to neighboring Middle Eastern countries for Iran’s strikes, but the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), loyal to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, issued a statement urging the public to disregard Raisi’s comments during wartime, reaffirming their commitment to armed resistance.
In response to this volatile situation, the Korean government continues to assist citizens in evacuating via land routes. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that as of March 7, about 200 citizens in the Middle East have been evacuated to neighboring countries with support from local embassies.
Specifically, 65 Koreans from Qatar and 15 from Kuwait have relocated to Saudi Arabia, while 41 have departed from Jordan, 14 from Bahrain, and 5 from Iraq to nearby countries.
The Ministry stated that embassy staff have provided support with vehicle rentals and immigration procedures during this process, adding that it will continue our efforts to ensure the safety of the citizens.
Earlier, the government prioritized the evacuation of about 90 Korean nationals residing in Iran and Israel over two days, on March 2 and 3.
The South Korean embassy in Israel is planning a second evacuation early next week. Reports indicate that evacuees will travel by land to neighboring countries before flying back to Korea.
At present, there are no additional evacuation plans for the approximately 40 citizens remaining in Iran. As most are long-term residents, the consensus appears to be to monitor the local situation before making further decisions.