Korean Nationals in Israel Evacuate to Jordan Due to Iranian Airstrikes

Korean residents in Israel have safely evacuated to neighboring Jordan to escape the heightened military tensions with Iran.

According to the Korean Association in Israel, 23 Koreans who applied for evacuation on the morning of the 16th (local time) successfully entered Jordan using a bus chartered by the association, crossing the land border checkpoint.

The evacuation effort was supported by the Korean Embassy in Israel, which provided the bus charter costs and a convoy to the border, demonstrating active cooperation.

On the 15th, a preliminary group of six individuals, including Lee Kang-geun, the president of the Korean Association in Israel, departed first to assess the local situation.

The evacuees who arrived in Jordan are all safe, and the association had arranged temporary accommodations in the homes of other Korean nationals who were prepared in advance.

Vice President Hwang Seong-hoon of the Korean Association in Israel stated, "Many of the 23 nationals have booked flights departing from Jordan to return to Korea," adding, "The fastest one will leave tomorrow (the 17th)."

Return and Resettlement Plans

Korean nationals who do not immediately return to Korea plan to stay in local accommodations in Jordan for 7 to 10 days to observe if the situation in Israel stabilizes before deciding on their return.

Iran's retaliatory strikes continue as seen in Tel Aviv, Israel / CBS

Currently, it is estimated that about 500 to 600 Koreans reside in Israel, and the majority of those who did not evacuate have expressed their intention to remain in the area, according to the association.

Since the 13th, Israel and Iran have been engaged in large-scale airstrikes against each other, leading to the closure of Israeli airspace.

As a result, the South Korean government's plan to deploy chartered flights for repatriation of its nationals is presently in a challenging situation.

The South Korean government previously deployed its Air Force's KC-330 'Cygnus' aerial refueling transport aircraft to support the return of nationals during the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in 2023.

Image source: On the 16th (local time), a view of the damaged buildings in Petah Tikva, Israel, following Iran's missile launch. / gettyimageskorea, Iran's retaliatory strikes continue in Tel Aviv, Israel / cbs