Four more South Koreans evacuated from Iran amid escalating conflict with Israel

By Kim Hee-su Posted : June 20, 2025, 11:07 Updated : June 20, 2025, 11:09
South Koreans and their Iranian family members boarding a bus in Tehran during their evacuation from Iran to Turkmenistan on June 17 2025 Courtesy of South Korean Foreign Ministry
Evacuees get on a bus in Tehran, Iran on June 17, 2025. Courtesy of the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs
SEOUL, June 20 (AJP) - Four more South Koreans were evacuated from Iran to neighboring Turkmenistan amid a deadly conflict in the Middle East, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday.

They joined about 30 other evacuees including their Iranian family members, who had arrived in the Turkmen capital of Ashgabat via a land route the previous day, with transportation assistance and consular support provided by South Korean diplomatic missions there.

"With Iranian airspace closed due to escalating military tensions, the government facilitated overland evacuations for South Koreans to ensure their safety," the ministry explained.

According to government authorities, around 25 South Koreans have also been evacuated from Israel to Jordan, as tens of thousands of foreign nationals are rushing to flee the region after Israel's surprise attack on Iran last week, which has led to retaliatory strikes and intensified airstrikes.

About 100 South Koreans are estimated to reside in Iran, mostly in the capital area of Tehran, while around 500 live in Israel.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump is contemplating whether to strike Iran's nuclear facilities. In a statement read aloud by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, he said he would make a decision "in the next two weeks," adding, "There's a substantial chance of negotiation that may or may not take place with Iran."

Iran has vowed to retaliate if the U.S. decides to strike.
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