President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered the government Wednesday to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of Korean nationals in regions affected by an escalating conflict in the Middle East and to mitigate its impact on the economy and energy supplies.

Yoon held an emergency meeting with the ministers of finance, foreign affairs and defense, as well as the National Intelligence Service and the Bank of Korea, to assess the potential effects of the Middle East crisis on the nation’s economy and security.

“The top priority is to protect our citizens. The government should take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of our nationals abroad,” Yoon said.

President Yoon Suk Yeol (4th from L) presides over an emergency meeting on the Middle East crisis at the presidential office in Seoul on Oct. 2, 2024. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

President Yoon Suk Yeol (4th from L) presides over an emergency meeting on the Middle East crisis at the presidential office in Seoul on Oct. 2, 2024. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

Yoon i
nstructed the government to prepare for various scenarios and assess related risks to minimize the potential impact from the Middle East conflict on the national economy.

“Security in the Middle East is directly related to global oil prices, and it also affects our energy supplies and supply chain,” he said, ordering “preemptive” measures to deal with associated risks.

South Korea is the fourth-largest crude oil importer in the world, mostly importing its crude oil from the Middle East.

Iran fired around 180 ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday, days after Israel killed the leader of Iran-backed Hezbollah and sent troops into Lebanon. Israel vowed to respond, fueling concerns over a larger conflict in the Middle East.

Source: Yonhap News Agency