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South Korea Holds Emergency Meeting as Middle East Conflict Escalates

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will chair an extraordinary Cabinet meeting upon his return from Southeast Asia to address the escalating Middle East crisis. The meeting will focus on response measures and evacuation plans for approximately 21,000 South Korean nationals in the region. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok has already ordered full contingency readiness, emphasizing citizen protection as the top priority. The conflict, sparked by joint US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran, is rapidly spreading across neighboring countries.

Key Points: S. Korea Emergency Cabinet Meeting on Middle East Crisis

  • Emergency Cabinet meeting Thursday
  • Focus on evacuation plans for nationals
  • 21,000 S. Koreans in affected region
  • Conflict triggered by US-Israel strike
2 min read

South Korea: Lee to preside over extraordinary Cabinet meeting on mounting Middle East tensions

President Lee Jae Myung to chair emergency meeting on Iran-Israel conflict, prioritizing evacuation plans for thousands of South Korean nationals.

"Right now, protecting overseas nationals is the top priority - Kim Min-seok"

Seoul, March 4

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will preside over an extraordinary Cabinet meeting this week to discuss response measures to the mounting crisis in the Middle East shortly after returning from his Southeast Asia trip, Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday.

The extraordinary meeting, set for Thursday, will be attended by top officials from the finance and foreign ministries, as joint US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran have triggered military responses from countries across the region, fueling concerns over a wider regional conflict.

During the meeting, Lee is expected to be briefed on the situation surrounding the Iran crisis, and discuss its potential impact and response measures.

Lee is scheduled to return home late Wednesday from his state visits to Singapore and the Philippines, Yonhap news agency reported.

Earlier on Tuesday, South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok had ordered ministries to maintain full contingency readiness, including evacuation plans, emphasising that protecting South Koreans in the Middle East is the government's top priority.

​Kim convened the weekly Cabinet meeting amid the Middle East conflict triggered by a joint US-Israel strike on Iran on Saturday that is rapidly spreading across neighboring countries, with Iran and Israel's counterattacks widening.

"Right now, protecting overseas nationals is the top priority," Kim said during the meeting he presided over on behalf of Lee Jae Myung, who is visiting Singapore and the Philippines for summit talks.

"Please make especially thorough preparations for various response measures and evacuation for our nationals residing in the affected countries, as the course of the war is expanding beyond the respective responses by Iran and Israel into Iran's counterattacks on neighboring countries."

According to Foreign Ministry figures, approximately 4,000 short-term visitors, including travelers, and some 17,000 long-term residents, including expatriates, are currently in 13 Middle East countries, with about 2,000 people stranded in Dubai alone. The Dubai figure likely includes travelers using the city as a transit hub en route to Europe or Africa.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
This is so worrying. My cousin works in Dubai and we are constantly checking on him. The situation seems to be escalating quickly. Hope all countries prioritize bringing their people home safely. 🙏
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Rohit P
While I appreciate the focus on evacuation, I wish there was more discussion on diplomatic efforts to de-escalate. Military responses just create more refugees and instability. Countries like South Korea and India, with significant stakes in regional stability, should push harder for dialogue.
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Sarah B
The number of people stranded in Dubai alone is staggering. It shows how interconnected the world is—a conflict in one region disrupts global travel. Efficient contingency plans are not just a national responsibility but a global necessity now.
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Vikram M
Direct impact on oil prices is my immediate concern. India imports so much. Any widening conflict will hit our economy hard. Governments need to think about these secondary effects on common people's budgets.
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Karthik V
Respectfully, the article focuses a lot on South Korea's response, which is fine, but I'm more interested in what our own Indian government is doing. We have millions in the Middle East. Hope our systems are as prepared as they seem to be.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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