S. Korea urges nationals to immediately leave Iran, Israel

Smoke from an explosion in southwest Tehran billows on Monday. The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting building was struck in an Israeli attack on June 16, cutting live coverage immediately. (AFP)

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday raised its travel advisory for Iran and Israel, urging its nationals to leave the countries immediately in response to ongoing missile strikes between Israel and Iran.

Effective from 1 p.m. Tuesday, Seoul time, the updated travel alert expands the existing Level 3 advisory — which recommends departure — to cover all of Iran.

Previously, the Level 3 alert, part of the four-tier travel advisory system in which Level 4 constitutes a travel ban, applied only to certain regions within Iran.

“Accordingly, South Korean nationals currently staying in Iran are advised to leave the country as quickly as possible, following guidance from the diplomatic mission, while paying special attention to their personal safety,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Around 100 South Korean nationals were residing in Iran as of June 12, according to data provided by the ministry.

The Foreign Ministry in Seoul also underscored that “Those planning to travel to the region are asked to cancel or postpone their trips.”

The ministry added that "it will continue to closely monitor the situation in the Middle East and take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of our nationals."

With only the minimum essential staff present on-site at the South Korean embassy in Tehran, others are operating remotely, The Korea Herald learned from a diplomatic source.

"As of now, we are not considering withdrawing the embassy or taking similar measures," a Foreign Ministry official said on condition of anonymity.

Effective from 8 p.m. Tuesday, Seoul time, the Foreign Ministry raised areas in Israel previously under a special "red" travel advisory to Level 3.

The Level 3 alert and Level 4 travel ban, originally applied to certain regions, remain in effect, the ministry announced Tuesday evening.

Following the update, all of Israel is now under Level 3, except for the Gaza Strip and a 4-kilometer stretch along the northern border with Lebanon, which remain under Level 4.

On par with its advisory for Iran, the Foreign Ministry called on South Korean nationals to “leave the country as soon as possible,” and urged those planning to travel to postpone or cancel their trips.

Twenty-three South Korean nationals evacuated Israel via a land route on Monday local time, in an effort spearheaded by the Korean community in Israel, with the South Korean Embassy providing "full support," another Foreign Ministry official said on condition of anonymity.

The official said the embassy covered the cost of the bus that transported the South Korean nationals, as well as the immigration procedures for their exit from Israel and entry into Jordan.

"With regard to the evacuation of our nationals in Israel, we are coming up with various measures for their safety at the current stage," the official added.

Israel on Monday warned hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate central Tehran, marking the first time in the four-day conflict that an evacuation warning has been issued for residential areas.

As the exchange of strikes continued into the fourth day of the escalating conflict that began on June 13, US President Donald Trump on Monday night cut short his participation in the G7 summit, departing Calgary, Canada, to return to Washington to focus on the crisis between Israel and Iran.