Global | 2023.10.14 23:22
[서울=뉴스핌] Reporter Lee Young-tae = A military transport plane carrying 220 people, including Koreans, Japanese and Singaporeans, safely arrived at Seongnam Seoul Airport around 10:45 pm on the 14th through a military transport plane deployed by the government to Israel, which had become dangerous due to attacks by the Palestinian armed political faction Hamas. Arrived.
The KC-330 Cygnus, an Air Force multi-purpose aerial refueling transport aircraft carrying them, took off from Seoul Airport in Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do (Air Force 15th Special Mission Wing) around noon the previous day, arrived at Tel Aviv International Airport in Israel, and departed for Korea again early that day.
A KC-330 (Cygnus) military transport aircraft from the 5th Air Mobility Wing of the Gimhae Air Force in Gyeongsangnam-do is vigorously taking off for an emergency mission to transport Israeli citizens on the 13th. 2023.10.14 [사진=외교부/국방부]
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in addition to the citizens who arrived in Korea on this day, the number of Koreans staying in the country is estimated to be about 450, including about 440 long-term residents and about 10 short-term residents. It is known that some of the short-term residents left the country via foreign flights.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs dispatched a rapid response team headed by Jeong Kang, Director of the Consular Security Bureau, along with this transport flight to support consular services necessary for the return home at the airport. The Ministry of National Defense also dispatched members of the Air Force Process Control Corps (CCT), an anti-terrorism unit, along with medical staff to prepare for any emergency.
On this flight, the government supported not only Korean citizens, but also 51 Japanese and 6 Singaporean citizens for humanitarian reasons so they could escape Israel.
In connection with this, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Japanese Ambassador to Israel Koichi Mizushima expressed their gratitude through diplomatic channels. It is reported that Ambassador Mizushima, known as an expert in Korea after serving in Korea several times in the past, will soon take up his post as the Japanese Ambassador to Korea.
The government said, “To ensure the safety of our citizens remaining in Israel, we will continue to support their movement to safer areas by land and air.”
The military transport plane departed from Korea at noon the previous day, arrived at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel, on the afternoon of the 13th, Israeli local time, and departed for Korea again in the early morning of the 14th.
An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs met with reporters the day before and said, “As the armed conflict is rapidly intensifying and a military operation against the Gaza Strip is observed to be imminent, flights to Tel Aviv Airport by airlines, including Korean Air, are suspended or canceled, so support for our people’s return home is necessary.” “I decided it was okay,” he explained.
The Koreans on board the plane were 81 long-term residents and 82 short-term travelers. Fifty-one people, including Japanese people and some Japanese spouses of other nationalities, and six Singaporeans also boarded the plane.
It is reported that the government made an offer to Japan when there were still seats available even after allocating seats to Koreans who wanted to board a military transport plane with about 230 available seats.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Japanese Ambassador to Israel Koichi Mizushima have each expressed gratitude for the Korean government’s support for the emergency return of Japanese nationals.
As of the 14th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has identified 440 Koreans remaining in Israel as long-term residents and 10 short-term residents. If they wish to leave the country, they are being advised to do so by land or a third country flight.
An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Koreans living in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip are safe and said, “We are seeking ways to ensure their safety.”
2023-10-14 13:52:00
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