21,000 South Koreans at Risk Amid Rising Middle East Conflict
- Dogeon Lim
- Mar 4
- 2 min read
Mar 4, 2026
Dogeon Lim
Around 21,000 South Korean nationals are currently staying in theMiddle East amid escalating tensions following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, the official said on March 3rd, adding that the government and the foreign ministry have been in communication to secure the safe return of their citizens.
The large number of South Korean nationals living in Middle Eastern countries is raising serious concerns
Government officials are communicating through various channels to see whether citizens, including long -term and short-term residents, can be moved to neighboring countries or safely returned home.
“Around 21,000 South Korean nations are staying in 13 Middle Eastern countries and about 4,000 short-term residents are expected to be in the United Arab Emirates, especially in Dubai,” Rep. Kim Young-bae of the ruling Democratic Party said after a government-party meeting at the National Assembly.
A total of 59 South Korean nationals, excluding embassy staff, remain in Iran, while another 616 are currently living in Israel.
“It is hard to estimate how long the situation will last so we are first checking the number of travelers who require immediate assistance,” Rep. Kim Young-bae said. As Iran, Israel, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Kuwait have shut their airspace after the U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran. He said “We will consider options to relocate them to countries where airspace remains open.”
About 30 South Korean crude oil tankers and commercial ships are currently operating in the Middle East.
This situation could lead to oil supply shortages and a sharp increase in oil prices.
The government is also putting all the efforts to secure oil supplies from regions outside the Middle East after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, a major global shipping route.
