Following the deployment of the Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT) to Nepal, which was affected by severe flooding, some families of missing persons expressed dissatisfaction with the team's efforts. The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working to resolve misunderstandings.
On September 14, Lee Gyu-ho, the head of the KDRT, stated at the Ministry's office in Jongno, Seoul, "We consulted with the Nepalese military regarding the areas the families wanted searched, but we received a response that it was too dangerous due to the mountainous terrain." He added, "We had no choice but to conduct limited searches within the scope supported by the Nepalese military."
Lee expressed regret, saying, "We failed to locate or rescue any missing Koreans. It is quite unfortunate." During their mission, the KDRT successfully rescued one Chinese survivor and discovered three bodies, recovering one. However, they were unable to find the whereabouts of nine missing Koreans.
Earlier, on September 8, some families of the missing persons held a press conference in Nepal, criticizing the government for an early withdrawal before completing the promised ten-day mission. They pointed out that the team had not conducted any substantial ground searches and had declared the search concluded, citing safety concerns.
In response, President Lee Jae-myung was informed of the difficulties faced by the families of the missing Koreans and reportedly instructed officials to listen to their concerns and consider their wishes as much as possible.
However, the second KDRT team, which effectively replaced the first team, is also expected to face limitations in their search efforts. The Ministry announced that the second team, led by Yoon Joo-seok, arrived in Kathmandu on September 12 and is scheduled to operate until September 17. The second team is working to continue search and rescue operations within the safety parameters set by the Nepalese government and military.
Unlike the first team, which was dispatched for search and rescue purposes, the second team is focused on reconstruction and relief efforts. Their mission duration is shorter, set at seven days compared to the first team's ten days, and their size has been significantly reduced from 44 members to just eight. Additionally, the advanced equipment brought by the first team was returned to South Korea when they departed.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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