As air routes over the Middle East shut down after U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and Iran's retaliation, brokers offering to help local Korean residents and travelers escape have reportedly emerged. But voices in the Korean community are urging people to heed official guidance from the embassy and other authorities, noting the possibility of phishing scams.
A, a Korean resident living in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), wrote on the 3rd (local time) on a personal blog that "this afternoon I saw a notice in a Korean open chat room recruiting passengers for a private jet." The broker allegedly offered to arrange a private flight from Dubai Al Maktoum Airport to Türkiye's Istanbul Airport. The expense was $220,000 for 10 people, about 32 million won per person.
Currently, only some flights, including Emirates, have resumed operations at Dubai Al Maktoum Airport. Passenger flights on Korean Air Lines that fly directly to Korea have been suspended through the 8th. That is the backdrop for the emergence of brokers.
A said, "I also saw a foreign broker claiming to arrange a private jet from Al Maktoum Airport to Mumbai, India," adding, "It is natural to be cautious because phishing texts aimed at deceiving people in difficulty are circulating alongside the chaos."
A travel agency proposing overland travel also appeared. On the UAE Korean Association community site, a post offered transportation by a 45-seat bus to Oman. It proposed an expense of around 300,000 won per person.
The problem is that crowds are flocking to border checkpoints from Dubai into Oman, forcing people to wait indefinitely. In response to the travel agency's post, B, a local Korean resident, replied, "Do not be swayed by shallow sales tactics disguised as goodwill; please judge carefully."
Even upon arriving at Muscat Airport in Oman, it is hard to guarantee you can get a plane ticket. Earlier, the embassy in the UAE noted, "While overland travel to Oman appears possible, sudden movement restrictions and other contingencies may arise due to instability in the Middle East," and "There have been cases of international flights at Muscat Airport being canceled, so advance confirmation is essential."
Experts stressed that people should beware of phishing scams masquerading as escape brokers and that government-level oversight is also necessary.
Kim Tae-hwang, a professor in the international trade department at Myongji University, said, "The situation is changing abruptly now, so individuals with weak information may make impulsive judgments or fall into traps," adding, "In particular, with dozens of people in anonymous open chat rooms, government official monitoring is needed in case misinformation spreads in an emergency."
Park Mi-rang, a professor in the police science department at Hannam University, also said, "The government should be even more proactive and deliver clear messages about phishing and smishing crimes occurring via open chat rooms." She added, "If it is a scam, attempts to solicit personal information are clearly criminal," and said that ultimately evacuating Korean residents safely is a national-level responsibility.
The number of Korean nationals staying in 13 Middle Eastern countries is estimated at around 20,000. In Dubai alone, there are more than 4,000 short-term visitors, including travelers. As flights are canceled one after another and return routes are blocked, the government is considering deploying charter planes or military transport aircraft.