Korea opens air route for evacuation through pragmatic diplomacy

Mar 09, 2026, 10:12 am

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Foreign Minister Cho Hyun enters the Foreign Ministry building in Seoul on March 7 to chair a meeting of the Overseas Koreans Protection Task Force. / Yonhap

The Lee Jae-myung administration successfully evacuated hundreds of South Korean nationals from the Middle East by securing a civilian charter flight through high-level diplomatic coordination, highlighting the government’s emphasis on pragmatic security and crisis management.

Amid escalating tensions in the region, the government negotiated with United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities to arrange a charter flight operated by Etihad Airways, which carried 206 passengers — including 203 South Korean citizens and three foreign spouses — from Abu Dhabi.

The flight departed at 5:35 p.m. on March 8 (Korea time) and safely landed at Incheon International Airport early on March 9.

The evacuation came just three days after Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held an emergency call with his UAE counterpart on March 5, demonstrating the effectiveness of high-level diplomatic channels in securing a safe route home for Korean nationals.

Behind the evacuation effort were intense diplomatic negotiations and the dedication of South Korean diplomatic staff stationed in the region.

During a meeting of the Overseas Koreans Protection Task Force on March 7, Cho shared accounts of embassy officials opening diplomatic compounds and residences as temporary shelters for citizens during ongoing airstrikes.

Despite communication disruptions and restricted movement, 154 Koreans residing in six Middle Eastern countries — including 25 in Iran and 66 in Israel — were guided overland to neighboring countries by diplomatic staff, according to the government.

So far, authorities say there have been no confirmed casualties among South Korean nationals in the region.

The charter flight operation is seen as the first visible outcome of President Lee’s directive for an all-out government response to the crisis.

At a recent emergency cabinet meeting, Lee instructed officials to mobilize every available resource — including military aircraft and charter flights — to evacuate citizens if necessary.

He also ordered the rapid implementation of a 100 trillion won market stabilization program to prevent financial market volatility and warned that the government may consider a price cap system for gasoline to mitigate potential economic impacts from the Middle East crisis.

The government said it will continue efforts to support the evacuation of remaining citizens in the region.

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-baek recently instructed the military to maintain a 24-hour crisis response system and prepare to deploy military assets immediately if evacuation assistance is requested.

The Cheonghae Unit, which protects Korean vessels in the Gulf of Aden, has reportedly moved closer to the Strait of Hormuz to enhance security for South Korean ships and remain ready to support potential maritime evacuations if needed.

The government said it will continue working to ensure that all remaining South Korean nationals — estimated at more than 500 — return home safely.

#Lee Jae-myung #Middle East evacuation #UAE charter flight #pragmatic diplomacy