Korean nationals evacuated from Lebanon amid rising military tensions

Ninety-seven Koreans and their families were evacuated from Lebanon amid rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, using a military transport aircraft.

Korean nationals wait at an airport in Lebanon on Friday to board a military transport aircraft provided by the government for their return home. [MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS]

A total of 97 Korean nationals and their families were evacuated from Lebanon and arrived in their home country on Saturday afternoon aboard a military transport aircraft provided by the government.

The evacuation comes amid escalating military tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, which have hindered the ability of Korean citizens to leave Lebanon via commercial flights.

Of the 97 evacuees, 96 are Korean citizens, while one is a family member of Lebanese nationality. No citizens from allied nations were on board the aircraft, officials confirmed.

President Yoon Suk Yeol directed the immediate deployment of military resources to evacuate Korean nationals from the region during an emergency meeting on Wednesday.

In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defense dispatched the transport aircraft and a rapid response team to Lebanon.

A group of Korean nationals are greeted by soldiers and officials as they arrive at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, after they were evacuated from Lebanon on a military transport plane on Saturday. [NEWS1]

The aircraft departed Korea on Thursday and arrived in Beirut on Friday morning. After boarding the evacuees, it left Beirut later that day and entered the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone. It landed at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam at 12:50 p.m. Saturday.

“The government will continue to closely monitor the situation in Lebanon and the broader Middle East and will take various safety measures to ensure the security of our nationals residing in the region,” the ministries said in a joint statement.

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]