Foreign Minister Says "10 Koreans Isolated by Nepal Floods Confirmed Safe"... Total of 9 Missing (Comprehensive)

Government Joint Rapid Response Team to Depart for Nepal on the 27th

Korea-Nepal Foreign Ministers to Hold Phone Talks on the 27th

Cho Hyun: "Will Request Cooperation"

Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun stated on August 26 that ten Korean nationals, who had been stranded due to the flooding in the Rasuwa area of Nepal, "are awaiting rescue after evacuating locally, but have been confirmed to be in a safe situation." The number of missing persons, which was initially reported as eight, has increased to nine after one additional individual was identified.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun is presiding over a meeting of the Overseas Citizens Protection Headquarters related to the missing Korean nationals in the Nepal flood at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 26th. August 26, 2026. mon@yna.co.kr Yonhap News Agency

At around 10:30 PM on the same day, Minister Cho urgently convened a meeting of the Overseas Citizens Protection Headquarters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs annex at the Government Complex Seoul. In his opening remarks, he said, "The headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the local embassy are working closely with relevant ministries, and I urge everyone to make every effort for the swift and safe search and rescue of our citizens." The meeting was attended by Kim Jin-a, Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as other Foreign Ministry officials and representatives from the Embassy of Korea in Nepal, the National Police Agency, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and other relevant ministries.

The nine Korean nationals who have been out of contact in Nepal are all employees of Korea South-East Power and Doosan Enerbility, working at a local hydropower construction site. Minister Cho said, "The Korean embassy in Nepal immediately requested the rescue of our citizens from the Nepalese government as soon as it became aware of the accident," adding, "The Nepalese government has stated that the army and police have been mobilized for rescue operations." However, he also expressed concern, saying, "There are foreign media reports that hundreds of people are missing as a result of this incident, so we anticipate that the rescue work will be challenging."

Damaged houses stand precariously near the banks of the Trishuli River, swollen with flash flood waters and debris in the Nuwakot region of Nepal. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The government plans to dispatch a rapid response team to Nepal on August 27, led by Im Sangwoo, the government representative for overseas citizens protection and consular affairs, and composed of officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Police Agency, and National Fire Agency. The rapid response team is scheduled to depart Incheon International Airport at around 1:40 PM on August 27, traveling via Hong Kong to reach Kathmandu, Nepal.

Foreign Minister Hyun Cho is presiding over a meeting of the Overseas Citizens Protection Headquarters regarding the missing Korean nationals in the Nepal floods at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 26th. 2026.8.26 Photo by mon@yna.co.kr, Yonhap News

Minister Cho added, "I ask the embassy to carefully look after stranded Korean citizens’ safety and to maintain strong cooperation with local authorities until the rapid response team arrives at the scene. Tomorrow, I will speak with the Nepalese Minister of Foreign Affairs and request further cooperation."

Furthermore, Minister Cho said, "Many citizens are likely spending sleepless nights out of concern," emphasizing, "We will continue to keep the families of those out of contact or in evacuation closely informed of developments by maintaining thorough communication with the relevant companies."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.