South Korea's Foreign Ministry said on October 14 that it will withdraw additional embassy staff from Ukraine after Kyiv failed to offer a "constructive response" in a dispute over North Korean prisoners of war.
Ministry spokesperson Park Doo-soon said at a regular press briefing that Seoul had conveyed its position to Kyiv through multiple channels but had not received a satisfactory reply from Ukraine. He did not specify how many staff members would leave.
According to Park, the decision was made because Seoul judged it necessary to facilitate a smooth resolution of the issue and to restore trust between the two countries. A chargé d'affaires will remain in Kyiv to maintain diplomatic contact, along with all consular staff tasked with protecting South Korean citizens.
Park also said prolonged air-raid risks across Ukraine are making it difficult to guarantee staff safety.
How the tensions unfolded
Tensions erupted earlier this month when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at the UN General Assembly that Ukraine had transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea. The disclosure drew a sharp reaction from Seoul, which argued that the operation should have been kept confidential to protect the soldiers' families in North Korea.
South Korea subsequently recalled its ambassador in Kyiv. Seoul had earlier summoned Ukraine's ambassador and warned it would take "follow-up measures," without giving details.
For its part, Kyiv insisted that "diplomacy must prevail over emotions" in relations between the two countries and said "the situation has been resolved."
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said earlier this month that Ukraine had sent a message "containing an apology" over Zelenskyy's remarks, but that it had not reached the "level" Seoul had hoped for.
Under South Korea's Constitution, all North Koreans are considered citizens of the Republic of Korea, and those who reach its territory seeking refuge are generally allowed to stay.
