Government on Alert Over Spread of 'US Immigration Crackdown Protests'... "Emergency Preparedness"

In response to the protests against immigration crackdowns that began recently in Los Angeles and are now spreading across the United States, the government has decided to maintain an emergency preparedness posture to ensure the safety of overseas Korean nationals.

On the 13th, a joint situation assessment meeting of the Overseas Koreans Office and the Korean Embassy in the United States was held under the chairmanship of Yoon Juseok, Director General of the Consular Safety Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ministry of Foreign Affairs

On the 13th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it had conducted a joint situation assessment meeting via video conference, chaired by Yoon Juseok, Director General of the Consular Safety Bureau, with the Overseas Koreans Office and Korean diplomatic missions in the United States, to review safety and protection measures for overseas Koreans. The meeting was attended by 12 officials from Korean diplomatic missions across the United States, including not only Los Angeles but also San Francisco, New York, and Boston.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "Since the protest occurred in Los Angeles on the 6th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Overseas Koreans Office, and Korean diplomatic missions in the United States have maintained a close cooperative system and are closely monitoring the local situation." The ministry added, "We are maintaining close communication with the Korean community and are continuously taking necessary measures to ensure the safety of Korean nationals residing in the affected areas."

At the meeting, Director General Yoon urged, "As the protests spread and illegal activities take place in connection with them, we must actively carry out preventive activities, such as providing timely safety notices containing information about the protest situation and safety measures, to prevent harm to our nationals and the Korean community." He also emphasized, "In the event that Korean nationals are arrested or detained in connection with these protests, we must make every effort to protect overseas Koreans by providing prompt and proactive consular assistance."

As the protests are expected to spread nationwide in the United States this weekend, the government plans to form task forces at each diplomatic mission to maintain an emergency preparedness posture and to actively take necessary measures to ensure the safety of overseas Korean nationals.