Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul presided over the Fourth Overseas Nationals Protection Committee Meeting on December 9, with the participation of government members from relevant ministries and six civilian members.

The Committee reviewed the implementation results of the 2024 Overseas Nationals Protection Plan, and deliberated on and approved the 2025 Plan. In addition, the Committee discussed current issues, including the protection of overseas nationals in some conflict regions of the Middle East and measures to strengthen inter-ministerial cooperation in addressing issues such as employment fraud and criminal captivity in Southeast Asia.

Minister Cho emphasized the importance of establishing a robust protection network for overseas nationals, enabling them to travel safely regardless of increasingly complex and diverse global challenges. He highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts, including eliminating possible barriers between relevant agencies involved in the protection of overseas nationals, increasing the number of personnel responsible for overseas safety, and signing the Memorandum on Cooperation of Protecting Korean and Japanese Nationals in Third Countries.

Furthermore, Minister Cho underscored that the 2025 Plan should be carried out without delay through close cooperation among relevant ministries, which includes initiatives such as formulating the “Second Overseas Nationals Protection Plan (2026-2030),” signing agreements between institutions regarding the protection of overseas nationals, upgrading the Consular Call Center system, and expanding online passport services.

The members of the Committee highlighted the safe return of 97 Korean nationals from Lebanon in October, amid a critical crisis situation, as a key success in the protection of overseas nationals for the year. They also analyzed and compared this case with previous conflicts in the Middle East, such as the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war and the 2023 Israel-Hamas conflict, deriving key policy implications for the protection of overseas nationals and reviewing safety measures for nationals in the Middle East.

The Committee members further agreed on the necessity of strengthening inter-agency collaboration to effectively address employment fraud and detention issues in Southeast Asia. They also recognized the importance of building a cohesive government-wide response system, enhancing the capabilities of personnel responsible for overseas safety, and exploring various measures to strengthen the initial response to incidents.

This meeting served as a significant opportunity for the government, which is at the forefront of the protection of overseas nationals, and civilian members to collaborate on strategies to further strengthen the protection network for overseas nationals.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed its commitment to actively advancing policies and systems for the protection of overseas nationals, irrespective of domestic circumstances, to ensure the safety and well-being of all Korean nationals abroad.