President Lee Jae-myung on the 9th ordered officials to "mobilize the government's full diplomatic capacity to ensure the safety of our nationals, secure their prompt release, and facilitate their early return home," in response to the seizure by Israeli forces of a relief ship carrying Koreans.
According to Presidential Office Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung, Lee said the previous evening that he had "received a report on the current situation and response plan" regarding our nationals who were aboard the ship seized by Israel, and directed the government to deploy all available resources to ensure the passengers' safety and release.
Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said a civilian ship carrying relief supplies bound for the Gaza Strip in Palestine was seized by Israeli forces, and that a Korean woman in her 20s was also on board. Kim reportedly did not obtain an exceptional passport-use permit before entering the conflict zone of the Gaza Strip.
Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on social media that "the ship and its passengers were safely transferred to an Israeli port and will soon be deported." Israel also seized a civilian relief flotilla on the 1st. The Korean government said it will continue to ask the Israeli authorities for the swift release of our nationals who are detained.