Office of the President: "No Reports of Harm to 70 Korean Nationals in Venezuela... Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Hold Emergency Response Meeting"

Yonhap News

President Lee Jaemyung received a report on the explosion incident that occurred in Venezuela on the afternoon of January 3, 2026. He instructed the relevant authorities to establish plans for the protection and evacuation of Korean nationals.

The Office of the President announced this in a press release on the same day. President Lee directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant agencies to "establish thorough plans for the protection of Korean nationals and detailed evacuation procedures in preparation for any worsening of the situation," and urged them to "make all necessary preparations so that these plans can be implemented swiftly if needed."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is scheduled to hold an emergency response meeting on the evening of January 3. According to the Office of the President, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately activated a task force for the protection of overseas nationals after the incident and is making every effort to ensure the safety of Korean nationals in cooperation with the local diplomatic mission.

According to the Office of the President, there are currently about 70 Korean nationals staying in Venezuela, with approximately 50 residing in the capital city, Caracas. As of now, there have been no reports of Korean nationals being harmed.

In the early morning of January 3 local time, the United States launched a surprise airstrike on Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. Multiple explosions reportedly occurred in Caracas as a result of the U.S. airstrikes. Foreign media also reported that officials have confirmed President Donald Trump ordered the airstrikes against Venezuela.