20 South Korean families evacuate Iran amid escalating Israel-Iran conflict

IANS June 19, 2025 234 views

Twenty South Korean nationals and their families have safely evacuated Iran through Turkmenistan amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran. The South Korean government provided transportation and logistical support for the 1,200 km land route journey. A rapid response team assisted in the operation, with further evacuations being considered. The conflict escalated as Iran fired ballistic missiles at Israel, including a strike on a hospital in Beersheba.

"Given the continued exchange of military strikes... we have decided to assist our nationals in evacuating Iran via land routes." — South Korean Foreign Ministry
Seoul, June 19: Twenty South Korean nationals and their family members have evacuated Iran via a land route and arrived safely in Turkmenistan amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, the foreign ministry said.

Key Points

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20 South Koreans and family members evacuated via Turkmenistan

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Rapid response team assisted in the land route operation

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Additional evacuations planned amid rising Middle East tensions

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Iran-Israel conflict escalates with missile strikes on Israeli hospital

Eighteen South Koreans and two Iranian family members crossed the border into the Central Asian country by transportation provided by the South Korean government Tuesday morning (local time) and arrived in the capital, Ashgabat, the next day, the ministry said.

The eastern border land route chosen by the government is about 1,200 kilometres, and it takes around 16 hours to travel by bus without breaks, a ministry official said.

A rapid response team from Seoul was in Turkmenistan to assist with the evacuation efforts.

About 110 South Koreans had been estimated to be in Iran as of last Friday, when the Israelis initiated an attack on Iranian nuclear and military facilities.

The official also indicated that preparations are underway for an additional evacuation.

The government has been weighing options to ensure the safety of South Korean nationals in the Middle East, amid the escalating tensions following massive airstrikes between Israel and Iran.

"Given the continued exchange of military strikes between the two sides this week, growing concerns over the safety of our citizens, and the ongoing closure of Iranian airspace, we have decided to assist our nationals in evacuating Iran via land routes," the ministry said.

The operation comes as countries are closing their embassies and evacuating their citizens from the region, either to return home or relocate to nearby nations, Yonhap news agency reported.

The South Korean government has also provided transportation and assistance to 23 South Korean nationals to leave Israel via a land route to Jordan.

Earlier in the day, an Iranian ballistic missile struck Soroka Hospital in Israel's Beersheba, seriously injuring several patients, doctors, and staff as the conflict entered its seventh day.

"Soroka Hospital in Beersheba -- where Jews, Muslims, Christians, and Arab Bedouin receive care -- was just hit by an indiscriminate Iranian ballistic missile. Israel will continue to do what must be done to protect all its people, from all walks of life," the Israel Foreign Ministry said in a post on X.

According to the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), Iran fired around 30 ballistic missiles at Israel on Thursday, and one of them struck the hospital in Beersheba.

Reader Comments

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Priya K.
Glad to see South Korea taking proactive steps to protect its citizens. India should also be prepared with evacuation plans for our people in conflict zones. Our MEA has handled such situations well in the past (Ukraine evacuation was commendable). Stay safe everyone! 🙏
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Rahul S.
This Israel-Iran conflict is getting worse day by day. Attacking a hospital is absolutely unacceptable, no matter which side does it. India has good relations with both countries - we should use our diplomatic channels to push for de-escalation.
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Ananya M.
Smart move using land routes when airspace is closed. Reminds me of how India airlifted people from Yemen in 2015. Hope other countries can learn from these evacuation strategies. The Middle East situation is becoming too volatile - prayers for all affected civilians.
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Vikram J.
While I appreciate South Korea's efforts, I'm concerned about the Turkmenistan route. That region isn't exactly stable either. Would have preferred seeing them move towards UAE or Oman. Hope the remaining South Koreans can be evacuated safely.
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Sunita R.
The hospital attack is heartbreaking 💔 So many innocent lives affected. This conflict shows why India's policy of strategic autonomy is important - we must maintain relations with all sides while standing firm on terrorism. Hope peace prevails soon.
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Karan P.
Interesting to see Turkmenistan being used as an evacuation route. Makes me wonder - if such a situation arises near our borders (say in Myanmar), which routes would India use? We should conduct more evacuation drills with our neighboring countries. Preparedness is key!

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Tags:
South Korea Iran Israel evacuation Middle East conflict ballistic missiles