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South Korea says it will withdraw part of its diplomatic staff from Ukraine, citing Kyiv’s lack of steps to resolve a dispute over two North Korean prisoners of war and the risks posed by Russian airstrikes. The move follows Seoul’s recall of its ambassador in early October. The number of staff affected and the timing of the withdrawals have not been reported.
South Korea will recall part of its diplomatic staff from its embassy in Kyiv, saying Ukraine has not taken “positive steps” to resolve a dispute over the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul. The Foreign Ministry also cited ongoing Russian airstrikes as a difficulty in protecting its personnel, according to Yonhap, as reported by Meduza on October 20.
The personnel reduction follows Seoul’s decision in early October to recall its ambassador from Ukraine. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said the latest measure was prompted by the lack of progress in resolving the diplomatic conflict. Its statement also identified Russian airstrikes as a separate security concern for staff serving in Kyiv.
The dispute began after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said publicly that Ukraine had handed two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. Seoul said the arrangement had been private and that Ukraine had initiated the transfer. The source report does not provide further details about the prisoners or the terms of the arrangement.
South Korea sought an official apology from Ukraine after the public announcement. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha offered an apology during diplomatic consultations, according to the report, but Seoul considered that insufficient because it was not made publicly. The two governments’ differing accounts of how the transfer was arranged remain central to the dispute.
Kyiv Embassy Faces a Smaller Mission
The planned withdrawal would reduce South Korea’s diplomatic presence in Ukraine at a time when the two governments are at odds over the handling and public disclosure of the prisoners’ transfer. Alongside the earlier ambassador recall, it indicates that the dispute has affected the staffing of the mission, not just public statements between officials.
South Korea’s stated security concern adds another dimension: its ministry linked the decision both to the unresolved diplomatic conflict and to Russian attacks that complicate protection of personnel. The report does not say that the dispute prompted the airstrikes or connect the two matters beyond their effect on the embassy’s operating conditions.
For people following relations between Seoul and Kyiv, the staffing move is a concrete sign that efforts to resolve the disagreement have not met South Korea’s expectations. It could also make routine diplomatic work more difficult, although the report does not describe what services or activities will change.
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How the Prisoner Transfer Dispute Began
The immediate trigger was Zelensky’s public account that Kyiv had transferred two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. Seoul said the transfer had been arranged privately and initiated by Ukraine. These accounts describe different aspects of the arrangement, but the report does not provide documents or additional statements that would settle their differences.
South Korea then asked Ukraine for an official apology. Sybiha apologized during diplomatic consultations, but Seoul viewed that response as inadequate because it was not delivered publicly. Seoul recalled its ambassador in early October; the planned staff reduction is the next reported diplomatic step.
The information available in the report is limited to the ministry’s stated reasons and the sequence of events. It does not establish whether the personnel cut is a temporary precaution, a longer-term change to the embassy’s operations, or a measure tied to a specific security assessment.
“Kyiv had not taken “positive steps” to resolve the diplomatic conflict.”
— South Korea’s Foreign Ministry, as reported by Yonhap
Staffing Numbers and Terms Unreported
The report does not say how many staff members will leave, when the withdrawals will take place, or which embassy functions could be affected. It also does not specify whether the recalled personnel will return to South Korea or be reassigned elsewhere.
It is not clear what steps Seoul would accept as resolving the dispute, whether Ukraine plans to make a public apology, or whether the two governments have scheduled further talks. The source gives no response from Ukraine to the latest staff-reduction announcement and does not clarify the prisoners’ current status.
The ministry cited Russian airstrikes as a factor in protecting staff, but the report provides no specific incident, threat assessment, or description of changes to embassy security. The duration of the planned reduction and any conditions for restoring staffing levels also remain unknown.
Further Talks and Embassy Changes
The immediate next development will be the implementation of South Korea’s planned personnel withdrawal. Neither the timing nor the scale has been disclosed in the information available. Any change in the embassy’s services or staffing arrangements may become clearer when Seoul provides further details.
Diplomatic consultations could clarify whether Ukraine will take steps that South Korea considers sufficient, including whether Seoul’s request for a public apology remains in force. No timetable for resolving the dispute or announced meeting between the governments is included in the report, so it is not yet possible to say when relations might improve.
Key Questions
Why is South Korea reducing its embassy staff in Kyiv?
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry cited Ukraine’s lack of “positive steps” to resolve the dispute over the two prisoners and said Russian airstrikes complicate efforts to protect diplomatic staff.
What started the dispute between South Korea and Ukraine?
The disagreement followed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s public statement that Ukraine had transferred two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. Seoul said the arrangement had been private and initiated by Ukraine.
Did Ukraine apologize to South Korea?
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha offered an apology during diplomatic consultations, according to the report. South Korea considered it insufficient because it was not made publicly.
How many embassy staff will South Korea withdraw?
The report does not give a number or a withdrawal date. It says only that South Korea will recall part of its diplomatic staff from Ukraine.
Has South Korea already recalled its ambassador?
Yes. South Korea recalled its ambassador from Ukraine in early October, before announcing the planned reduction in other diplomatic staff.
Source: rss
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