Approximately 140 South Koreans and compatriots were safely evacuated from Iran and Israel to neighboring countries on October 3, as confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On October 3, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that around 140 individuals, including South Korean nationals and Korean expatriates, were successfully evacuated from Iran and Israel to nearby countries of Turkmenistan and Egypt. This evacuation occurred amidst ongoing bombardments, highlighting the urgency and danger of the situation. The group departed Tehran on two buses organized by the South Korean embassy, departing early in the morning while airstrikes were still imminent in the area. After navigating through hazardous conditions, including heavy fog that impeded their travel, the convoy made it safely across the border into Turkmenistan after an overnight stop.
Among those evacuated were not only South Korean citizens but also around ten diplomatic personnel and their families, as well as Iranian nationals related to the South Korean expatriates. The situation escalated when initial plans for departure were complicated by restrictions on Iranian nationals, which ultimately allowed for additional individuals to leave with the original group. Notable figures in the evacuation included Lee Do-hee, coach of the Iranian women's national volleyball team, and Lee Gi-jae, a former national football player active in the Iranian professional league.
As communication networks in the region were severely disrupted, the South Korean embassy employed alternative communication channels to coordinate the evacuation efforts, maintaining contact with the foreign ministry in Seoul. Coordination efforts included liaising with both American and Iranian authorities to secure safe transit routes for the evacuees. Upon arrival in Turkmenistan, the expats were assisted by a rapid response team dispatched from Seoul, which provided guidance on immigration processes and arrangements for accommodation and flight back to South Korea or other countries. Following the evacuation, approximately 60 South Koreans remain in Iran, with the situation in Tehran remaining precarious as violence continues nearby the South Korean embassy.
