Seoul voices concern over safety of Korean nationals in Iran

By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, June 22 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean government said Monday it was
stepping up efforts to protect its nationals in Iran from violent street protests
against disputed election results, but it maintained a low-key approach towards
the sensitive issue itself.
"The South Korean Embassy in Iran will convene an emergency meeting tomorrow on
the safety of South Korean residents there," foreign ministry spokesman Moon
Tae-young said.
The embassy has also e-mailed to those residents updates on the security
conditions in Iran and safety-related guidelines every day since the outbreak of
the demonstrations against the outcome of the June 12 presidential election, he
added.
Moon said his ministry is considering heightening the level of travel warnings on
Iran.
The Iranian government's announcement that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
overwhelmingly won a second term over reformist opposition leader Mir Hossein
Mousavi provoked huge street protests, with Mousavi's supporters claiming that
the vote results were rigged. A brutal police crackdown that came after a week of
demonstrations has killed nearly 20 protesters, according to foreign news
reports.
More than 540 South Koreans live in the Middle Eastern country, including 360 in
Tehran, the capital city. None of them have become victims of the violence so
far, according to the ministry.
Ministry officials, however, refused to comment on the political situation in
Iran, with which South Korea has important trade and economic relations.
"We are keeping a close watch on it," a ministry official said, requesting
anonymity.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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