On Feb. 28, when Middle East tensions sharply worsened after U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran and Iran's retaliation, 53 Koreans staying in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) evacuated by traveling overland to Oman. With all flights canceled and people stranded, Lee Jae-cheon, 26, who runs the international politics YouTube channel "Sensus Studio," voluntarily helped with the evacuation.
At the time, a subscriber, A, who was in the UAE, was isolated after all flights were canceled due to the war. There was a way to leave the UAE by land and move to Muscat International Airport in Oman, where passenger flights were operating, but the person said the anxiety about crossing the border alone was great.
Lee judged that Koreans in similar circumstances could reduce risk by moving together. Lee spent the night reaching out to gather people and, with help from an acquaintance in the expatriate community and a travel agency, secured vehicles. Initially, sedans and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) were used, but as evacuation requests grew, buses were mobilized.
As a result, movement took place a total of 18 times, and 53 Koreans evacuated from the UAE to Oman.
In an interview with ChosunBiz on the 4th, Lee said, "At first, I started to help a subscriber in danger, but as more people voluntarily joined, a 'evacuation network' naturally formed." Lee added, "The help from the travel agency officials who provided vehicles at a loss and from those who continued to share local information after arriving in Oman was significant."
Now that diplomatic authorities have begun full-fledged support for repatriation, the operation of privately arranged evacuation buses has been suspended. The explanation is that this is to reduce confusion on the ground. Still, Lee is sharing emergency evacuation guidelines, local updates, and government notices via KakaoTalk open chat rooms. The following is a Q&A with Lee.
—What prompted you to help evacuate Koreans staying in the Middle East?
"After the war began, a subscriber who was in the UAE asked for help. Hearing that the person felt uneasy about traveling alone overland, I thought it might be better to move as a group and started gathering people. I got in touch with a domestic travel agency and a local firm, secured cars, and helped people travel overland to neighboring Oman."
—How was the evacuation carried out?
"When people who wanted to travel overland gathered, we secured cars by connecting with a local firm through a travel agency and moved as a group. At first, we traveled by sedan or sport utility vehicle (SUV) taxis. But the number of people asking for help kept increasing. Even minivans were not enough, so we mobilized chartered buses."
—How many people did you help evacuate overland in total?
"Including the bus departing on the 4th (local time), movement took place a total of 18 times, and so far we have enabled 53 people to travel by connecting them with a local firm."
—Were there any issues with costs?
"At first, the travel expense for a four-seat taxi was about 1.7 million won. But as the war escalated, the expense rose to 1.95 million won. Later, in the case of a 45-seat chartered bus, one vehicle cost about 5.3 million won, but if several people rode together, they could split the expense and reduce the individual burden."
—It seems it wouldn't have been easy to pass through the border checkpoint.
"We heard that if a group was too large, there could be problems at the border checkpoint, so we sometimes deliberately reduced the number of people before departure. Just in case, the travel agency owner, taking a loss, also sent taxis to follow behind the chartered bus so people could switch vehicles if needed."
—It looks like something impossible to do alone.
"So many people volunteered to help. At first there were four volunteers, but as those who succeeded in getting out offered to help on the ground, there are now 18 people working together. A 'escape network' naturally formed. It's the result of everyone coming together to overcome a crisis. I am truly grateful."
—I heard that even if you reach Muscat International Airport in Oman, it's hard to get flights.
"That's right. What the private sector can help with is only up to the stage of safe travel from the UAE to Oman. People have to secure their own return flights from Muscat International Airport, and because the situation is urgent, competition is said to be fierce. Government support is now desperately needed."
—Will you continue operating the emergency escape buses?
"We decided to suspend them for now. That's because the government has begun moving in earnest. Evacuations have proceeded from Iran to Turkmenistan and from Israel to Egypt, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' rapid response team has also arrived in the Middle East. We judged that if we kept gathering people and arranging overland evacuations, it could actually create confusion on the ground.
Still, we are continuing to share information through the KakaoTalk open chat rooms currently in operation. We are also sharing information on the travel agencies or car lending firms we have worked with for those who want to move without government help. We plan to continue the role of sharing information and making connections."
—What advice would you give to Koreans staying in the Middle East?
"If you are considering evacuating to a neighboring country, you must check the firm's business registration and whether it has government approval. Personally, because the situation could worsen again at any time, I think it's best to move quickly when you are able to travel. Safety is the most important thing."