South Koreans return home from Middle East

By Han Jun-gu Posted : March 6, 2026, 15:01 Updated : March 6, 2026, 15:01
Travelers and passengers who visited the Middle East arrive through Terminal 2 at Incheon International Airport as Middle East tensions worsen following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, March 5, 2026. Yonhap

SEOUL, March 06 (AJP) - Korean travelers who departed for the Middle East are returning home one by one as many air routes have been disrupted in the aftermath of Middle East tensions.

Additionally, the Dubai-Incheon route, which had been suspended due to the aftermath of Iran's airstrikes, resumed on March 6. The flight took off three hours and ten minutes later than scheduled due to local airport conditions.
 
Travelers and passengers who visited the Middle East arrive through Terminal 2 at Incheon International Airport as Middle East tensions worsen following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, March 5, 2026. Yonhap

Korean Air has suspended flights to the Middle East until March 8.

Meanwhile, the government is reviewing plans to deploy chartered planes and military transport aircraft to the UAE and other locations as early as this weekend, and is in discussions with UAE authorities for this purpose.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held a phone call with UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the night of March 5 to discuss plans for chartered plane takeoffs and landings to support the return of Korean nationals staying in the region.
 
A traveler who returned from the Middle East shows photos taken locally and speaks with reporters at Incheon International Airport, March 5. Yonhap
Han Jun-gu

Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.

Related