1. The Foreign Ministry hosted an emergency meeting on July 16 to look into the safety situation of the nationals of the Republic of Korea in Turkey amid the unrest in the country. Second Vice Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul presided over the meeting that brought together officials of the National Counterterrorism Center at the Office for Government Policy Coordination, and other relevant government agencies.

2. As a result of the meeting, the government decided to upgrade its Travel-alert Levels for Turkey to special travel alert and to take the following measures.

[Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

° Consider sending a rapid response team to Turkey
° Put the top priority on identifying the number of Korean travelers currently stranded at an Istanbul airport, ensuring their safety and helping them return home
° Instruct the Consul-General dispatched to the Istanbul airport to make more efforts to help the Koreans stranded at the airport
° Consult closely with airlines on ways to make possible an early return home of the Koreans in Turkey
° Put into full gear the 24-hour Consular Call Center and the emergency contact network of the ROK’s local diplomatic mission to check the whereabouts and safety situation of the ROK nationals who still remain unaccounted for, give relevant information to their families in a timely manner, and keep in close contact with the families.

[National Police Agency]

° Instruct the police attaché to Instanbul to keep open the channel with Turkey’s public security authorities for close cooperation
° Include an official of the National Police Agency in the rapid response team, should any ROK national sustain damage or injuries in Turkey

[Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism]

° Identify the number and whereabouts of group travelers from travel agencies at home and in Turkey
° Keep monitoring the situation in Turkey in cooperation with the “team for safe travel in Turkey,” formed and currently run by the Korea Tourism Organization and the Korea Association of Travel Agents.

3. The government will report the outcome of the meeting and the planned measures to the Prime Minister, share relevant information with all the other relevant government agencies whenever necessary, and remain on duty throughout the weekend.


* unofficial translation