Foreign Minister Cho Hyun Faces Bipartisan Fire Over Slow Response to Protect Koreans in Middle East

South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun came under rare bipartisan criticism at an emergency parliamentary hearing, as lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties accused the government of responding too slowly to protect Korean nationals caught up in an escalating Middle East crisis.

At the center of the criticism was the timing of Seoul's response. According to lawmakers, a special travel advisory for the affected region was issued only days after strikes had already begun, leaving Korean expatriates and travelers without clear guidance during the most dangerous early hours of the conflict.

Legislators also raised alarm over gaps in South Korea's diplomatic presence in the region. About 30 percent of the country's 19 diplomatic missions in the Middle East were operating without ambassadors, they said, weakening the government's ability to communicate with citizens and coordinate emergency support on the ground.

Critics argued that the vacancies left expatriates and travelers without adequate channels for information and assistance at a moment when rapid, reliable communication could be a matter of safety. Members from both political camps pressed the minister on how the ministry planned to fill the leadership gaps and speed up its crisis protocols.

The hearing reflected growing public concern in South Korea about the safety of its nationals abroad, particularly the tens of thousands of workers, business travelers and residents spread across the Middle East. Consular protection has become an increasingly sensitive political issue as instability flares in regions where Korean companies and citizens maintain a significant footprint.

Cho, facing questions from across the aisle, was pressed to explain how the ministry would strengthen its early-warning systems, accelerate advisories and ensure that diplomatic posts are adequately staffed before the next emergency. The bipartisan nature of the rebuke signaled that pressure on the ministry is unlikely to ease quickly.