Seoul raises travel alert, urges citizens to leave Saudi Arabia

South Korea has raised its travel advisory for all of Saudi Arabia to Level 3, the second-highest level, urging its citizens to leave the country, the Foreign Ministry in Seoul said Sunday.

The upgraded advisory will take effect at 10 p.m. Sunday, with South Korean nationals currently in Saudi Arabia advised to leave unless their stay is essential and those planning to visit urged to cancel or postpone their trips.

Under South Korea's four-tier travel advisory system, Level 3 recommends that citizens leave the affected area, while Level 4 prohibits travel.

The move came as fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthis intensified, with attacks on civilian infrastructure, including airports, causing multiple casualties and heightening regional tensions.

Saturday's missile attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed at least 12 people and wounded 309, according to Saudi authorities. The Houthis also threatened further attacks across the kingdom, marking a major escalation in the conflict.

Earlier Sunday, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun chaired a meeting with officials from 15 South Korean diplomatic missions across the Middle East to assess the regional security situation and review measures to protect South Korean nationals.

Cho called on diplomatic missions to closely monitor rapidly changing regional developments, shifting geopolitical dynamics and energy supply conditions, while responding swiftly to emerging threats, according to the ministry.

Cho also stressed the need to remain particularly vigilant and prepare for all possible scenarios to protect South Korean nationals abroad, the ministry added.

Officials from the missions, including those in Saudi Arabia and Yemen, said they were maintaining regular contact with South Korean nationals, checking on their safety and issuing frequent security alerts.

The ministry said it would continue monitoring developments in the Middle East and coordinating closely with its diplomatic missions to protect South Korean citizens.