Two Buses, 1,200km Overland Escape: 5 Urgent Tasks the Successful Evacuation of 89 Koreans from Iran and Israel Leaves for the 21,000 Still at Risk
As the Middle East situation deteriorates sharply following U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran, 89 Korean nationals in Iran and Israel have been safely evacuated to Turkmenistan and Egypt via a 1,200km overland operation using two buses. However, 21,000 Koreans remain in 13 Middle Eastern countries, and calls are growing for the Korean government to establish a systematic overseas national protection plan.
One-line hook: While 23 people split across two buses drove 1,200km to cross the border, 21,000 Koreans remain in 13 Middle Eastern countries.
TL;DR
- 89 Korean nationals in Iran and Israel successfully evacuated to Turkmenistan and Egypt on the 3rd (local time)
- 23 in Iran: Two buses chartered by the Korean Embassy → 1,200km overland → Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
- 66 in Israel: Evacuated to Egypt
- 21,000 Koreans across 13 Middle Eastern countries still remain on the ground
- The government is continuing to support movement to neighboring countries and repatriation, but a large-scale evacuation operation remains undecided
The Facts: How Did 89 People Escape?
Iran Escape Route (23 People)
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 23 Korean nationals staying in Tehran, Iran boarded two buses chartered by the Korean Embassy in Iran in the early hours of the 3rd (local time), departing from the capital Tehran. They traveled 1,200km by land, crossed the northern Iranian border, and arrived in Ashgabat, the capital of neighboring Turkmenistan. They completed entry and exit procedures with the support of the local Korean Embassy, and are scheduled to depart individually to Korea or a third country on the 4th.
Israel Escape (66 People)
66 Koreans staying in Israel completed their evacuation to Egypt. The Korean government supported their movement through close cooperation with the local Korean mission in Israel.
89 in Total — But This Is Just the Beginning
According to Yonhap News TV, Nate News, Nocut News, and the JoongAng Daily, a total of 89 Koreans (23 from Iran + 66 from Israel) were evacuated from Iran and Israel. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "Thanks to the swift response of local missions, the residents were able to move safely to neighboring countries."
Why Is This Story So Big Right Now?
- Day 5 of the war — Five days after the joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran began (February 28), the situation has expanded to include threats to blockade the Strait of Hormuz and retaliatory attacks by Iran's Revolutionary Guard, pushing Korean resident safety to the top of the agenda
- The drama of two buses — The compelling narrative of a 1,200km overland journey and a border crossing in a wartime situation spread rapidly through social media and news
- The number 21,000 — The ruling party and government announced they are "reviewing the movement of 21,000 Koreans in 13 Middle Eastern countries to neighboring countries or repatriation," making this figure a keyword symbolizing the scale of the risk
- Echoes of past events — Memories of the evacuation of 1,300 Koreans during the 2011 Libya crisis and the 2023 Sudan evacuation operation are being recalled, with a growing consensus that "this time is bigger"
Context & Background: Why Were Koreans in Iran?
Korea-Iran Economic Relations
Iran was a traditional crude oil supplier for Korea. Before U.S. sanctions (prior to 2019), Iran accounted for 10–15% of Korea's total crude oil imports. Although exchanges have sharply declined since the sanctions, company employees and self-employed individuals who were carrying out long-term projects in construction, plant, and trade sectors were still based there.
Koreans Staying in Israel
In Israel, there were mainly students, long-term religious visitors (including extended pilgrimages), and IT/startup cooperation employees. Some had withdrawn during the 2023 Hamas-Israel war, but the danger level has surged again as Iran's retaliatory attacks on Israel have continued.
Government Response Status
The Korean government held a review meeting on the situation of Koreans in 13 Middle Eastern countries on the 3rd, led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and strongly recommended movement to neighboring countries and voluntary repatriation. The Ministry's emergency contact network (consular call center) is operating 24 hours a day, and early flight repatriation support is also underway.
Outlook: What Happens to the 21,000?
Scenario 1 — Early Resolution (Optimistic)
Given that President Trump has hinted that a ceasefire is possible "within 4–5 weeks," if the situation is resolved early, it could normalize without a large-scale evacuation. However, as long as Iran's IRGC retaliatory attacks continue, declaring it "safe" is premature.
Scenario 2 — Prolonged Hormuz Blockade (Base Case)
If Iran follows through on threats to block vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, most Koreans staying in Gulf oil-producing countries (UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar) would be elevated to evacuation status. In this case, discussions on operating government charter flights and deploying naval vessels would become unavoidable.
Scenario 3 — Full-Scale War Escalation (Pessimistic)
If Lebanon's Hezbollah, Yemen's Houthis, and Iraqi Shia militias all intervene simultaneously, all 13 Middle Eastern countries could be designated as danger zones, triggering emergency evacuation protocols for all 21,000 Koreans. In this case, the Korean government's capacity to protect overseas nationals would face its greatest test in history.
Checklist: If You Are in the Middle East
Risk Analysis
| Risk | Details | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Communication Blackout | Partial damage to Iran's communications infrastructure could cut off contact with locals | 🔴 High |
| Flight Blockade | Closure of Iranian airspace and congestion at neighboring airports making air travel home difficult | 🔴 High |
| Currency & Finance | Cash shortages amid inability to use local ATMs and cards | 🟡 Medium |
| Misinformation Spread | Confusion compounded by AI deepfakes and false evacuation information on social media | 🟡 Medium |
| Third-Country Congestion | Delays caused by saturation of transit countries like Turkmenistan and Jordan | 🟠 Medium-High |
Reference Links
- 89 Korean nationals in Iran and Israel safely evacuated to neighboring countries (Daum/Yonhap News)
- 89 Koreans evacuated from Iran and Israel amid military strikes (Korea JoongAng Daily)
- 89 Korean nationals in Iran and Israel safely escape to neighboring countries — a tense transport operation (Nocut News)
- Ruling party and government: '21,000 Koreans in 13 Middle Eastern countries — considering movement to neighboring countries and domestic return' (Hankyoreh)
Image Source
- Flag of Iran: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain