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The South Korean government on the 27th swiftly dispatched a joint government rapid response team comprising personnel from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Fire Agency, and the Korean National Police Agency to rescue South Korean nationals missing or stranded in the massive flooding in Nepal. With nine South Koreans missing and 10 stranded, the government is mounting an all-out response for search and rescue operations, even activating high-level diplomatic channels with Nepalese authorities.

The rapid response team departed Incheon International Airport on a commercial flight that day, transited through Hong Kong, and arrived in Kathmandu, Nepal, late at night. Headed by Lim Sang-woo, Ambassador for Overseas Koreans Protection and Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the team consists of 11 members, including four from the foreign ministry, five from the fire agency, and two from the police agency.

Before departing from Incheon International Airport, Team Leader Lim told reporters, "We will do our utmost to ensure swift and safe search and rescue operations for our people."

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as of 11:00 AM that day, nine South Koreans were reported missing and 10 stranded individuals were awaiting rescue. The 10 stranded people have moved to a relatively safe location away from the accident site and are currently confirmed to be in good health. A local consular officer has also been deployed to their area to check on their safety and health conditions.

The rapid response team plans to receive briefings from the South Korean Embassy in Nepal on the status of Korean nationals and the disaster situation, and request cooperation from the Nepalese government, police, and relevant authorities for search and rescue operations. Team Leader Lim is also expected to contact senior Nepalese officials to request their utmost cooperation in rescuing South Korean nationals.

The South Korean government also activated ministerial-level diplomatic channels. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held a phone call with his Nepalese counterpart that day to explain the situation regarding South Korean nationals and requested the proactive deployment of resources necessary for search and rescue. A foreign ministry official explained, "The ministerial phone call was arranged promptly to ensure that our request for the safety of our citizens is conveyed to the highest levels of the Nepalese government."

Firefighting experts on the rapid response team plan to determine concrete search and rescue measures after assessing on-site conditions. Depending on local developments, the government is also reviewing the possibility of deploying additional personnel and detection equipment.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Park Doo-soon said at a regular briefing that day, "The government is currently reviewing the scale of emergency rescue and humanitarian assistance in comprehensive consideration of the damage situation and international developments." A foreign ministry official also stated, "Through on-site monitoring and consultations with headquarters, we will request additional personnel and detection equipment if needed."

However, rescuing the 10 stranded South Koreans may take some time. The terrain in the stranded area is rugged, and Nepalese authorities reportedly lack sufficient rescue equipment, including helicopters. The foreign ministry explained that their health conditions remain good at present.

The government is also closely monitoring the potential for additional casualties among other South Koreans staying in Nepal. Approximately 20,000 South Koreans visit Nepal annually for tourism, and no additional reports of missing travelers have been filed so far. The foreign ministry continues to verify the situation to prepare for the possibility of any unidentified victims.

The foreign ministry stated that it is frequently sharing updates on local conditions with the families of the missing and stranded while working in close cooperation with their employers to address the situation.

                                                                                                           Mok Yong-jae