Lee Ki-je, I went on the evacuation path with my back to fire! Evacuation of Iranian residents begins... Ministry of Foreign Affairs "Safe Area Evacuation"

*This content was translated by AI.

As military tensions in the Middle East reached their peak, including retaliatory attacks by Iran against U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, some Korean residents staying in Iran went on an evacuation procession.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 3rd, some Korean residents are currently moving to safety with the support of the Embassy of Iran. Considering the safety of Korean residents as a top priority, specific evacuation personnel, travel routes, and schedules were strictly closed to the public.

The evacuation personnel included sports figures working locally. Coach Lee Do-hee, who is at the helm of Iran's women's national volleyball team, and Lee Ki-je, a former member of the national team who plays in a local professional soccer league, are reportedly moving to a safe area.

As of the 1st, about 60 Koreans were staying in Iran. The total number of Koreans staying in 13 Middle East countries, including Iran and Israel, is about 20,000. The government also plans to push for evacuation support for Korean residents in Israel in the event of a worsening situation.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Park Il said in a regular briefing on the 3rd, "We are aware of the status of Korean residents, including short-term residents, from time to time," adding that it is difficult to specify and disclose the exact number of stays due to frequent fluctuations.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly advises Korean residents to leave the country immediately when flights are open. It is focusing on securing safety by providing information on alternative routes or bypass flights to citizens who have already been stranded due to flight cancellations.

As things stand, the withdrawal of the Embassy of Iran is not being considered. The government's firm position is to protect its citizens until the end, even if only one Korean remains there.

Meanwhile, Park was cautious about whether to deploy military transport planes for the worst-case scenario. "We will comprehensively examine and review the situation, including whether to close the airspace, the length of the runway for military aircraft to take off and land, and the possibility of input through neighboring countries," he explained.

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*This content was translated by AI.