Foreign ministry recommends S. Koreans in Saudi Arabia leave country amid Houthi attacks

South Korea has elevated its travel advisory for Saudi Arabia, urging its citizens to depart the country as Houthi rebel strikes from Yemen persist against Saudi targets.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that a Level 3 alert, the nation's second-highest advisory tier, took effect at 10 p.m. on Sunday. Under this guidance, South Korean citizens currently in Saudi Arabia are encouraged to leave unless their presence is required for essential business. The ministry also advised individuals intending to visit the kingdom to either call off or defer their itineraries.

The heightened alert follows an assessment led by Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, who convened a security review with chiefs of South Korean diplomatic posts across 15 countries in the Middle East. The participating missions included representations based in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iran and Israel.

During the discussions, Cho pointed to recent strikes carried out by the Houthis against King Khalid International Airport situated in Riyadh. The assault on the capital city's primary air hub resulted in a dozen fatalities alongside injuries to several hundred individuals. Following the incident, the Houthi movement warned aviation operators and travelers against flying into Saudi airports or operating within the country's airspace.

Cho instructed South Korean envoys stationed across the region to prioritize the safety of overseas nationals and maintain readiness for any potential developments. His remarks stressed that foreign missions must remain vigilant and implement thorough safeguards as regional security tensions escalate.