Returned Nepal Relief Team Leader Says, "Did Our Best but Failed to Rescue... Deep Regret and Apologies"

Lee Gyuho, the commander of the Korean Disaster Relief Team (KDRT) who was dispatched to the site of the massive flooding in Nepal and also serves as Director-General for Development Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated on September 14, "We tried our best to search for and rescue missing persons within the limits permitted by the Nepalese government," but added, "However, we failed to find or rescue those who had lost contact." He further commented, "I feel deeply regretful and sorry."

On the 8th, at the Trishuli Military Base in Nepal, Lee Gyuho, Captain of the Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT) (third from left), and team members are returning after completing search and rescue operations. 2026.9.8 Yonhap News Agency.

Commander Lee, who returned to Korea after completing the 10-day mission as part of the KDRT First Response Team, held a briefing at the Government Complex Seoul that afternoon and said, "Regarding the search and rescue of our missing nationals, the Nepalese military authorities did not grant permission, so the level of search our families hoped for could not be carried out." The KDRT, responding to the Nepalese authorities' request, rescued one Chinese survivor and confirmed three bodies during tunnel searches near the disaster area, of which one was recovered. However, no traces of the missing Korean national were found during their activities.

Under relevant regulations, KDRT is permitted to operate only within the limits negotiated with and authorized by the government of the affected country. Their mission is not limited to searching for and rescuing Korean nationals, but is conducted on humanitarian grounds to provide emergency disaster relief in general. Even KDRT’s survivor rescue efforts took place at the "tunnel search" site, as specifically requested by the Nepalese government.

Attempts to conduct on-foot searches in areas requested by the families of the missing persons faced restrictions from the local authorities. Commander Lee stated, "While searching the tunnels, we also tried to search areas where there was a higher likelihood that the Korean national who lost contact might have evacuated," but, "although we coordinated with the Nepalese military authorities, because the region is mountainous and considered dangerous, they said on-foot searches would not be permitted." He added, "Instead, we had no choice but to land (helicopters) in safe areas and conduct primarily drone searches of adjacent locations."

In fact, although not exactly in the locations requested by the families, KDRT attempted an on-foot search along a section on the right bank of the Trishuli River. However, due to the extremely rugged terrain, it took a total of seven hours to cover just 1.7km, and some team members became exhausted in the process. Ultimately, one isolated relief worker had to be rescued by a local military helicopter. After this, the Nepalese military authorities tightened their restrictions on on-foot searches in mountainous areas even further.

Nevertheless, due to KDRT's persistent requests for negotiations, the Nepalese authorities on September 8 (local time) allowed a very limited on-foot search, but only in "safe areas." However, it was difficult to find places suitable for helicopter landings, so the search was limited to drone investigation around the powerhouse area where the missing persons had worked. Commander Lee clarified, "The relief team was not able to conduct an on-foot search in the areas the families had hoped for," explaining that "because of safety concerns, the Nepalese military authorities did not permit it, resulting in these limitations."

All KDRT First Response Team personnel and equipment have withdrawn from the area, and a second team, reduced to eight members, is currently on site. The focus of the second team is on relief activities such as medical support rather than search and rescue, though search and rescue efforts will continue within the scope of cooperation with the Nepalese authorities. The initial government joint rapid response team dispatched at the beginning of the crisis has also been reorganized into a "government joint response team," now consisting of seven members: three from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, three from the National Police Agency, and one from the National Forensic Service, excluding rescue workers. According to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official, "The National Police Agency and National Forensic Service personnel are jointly working at the Nepal Central Forensic Science Laboratory, which our government has supported with a rapid DNA analysis machine, and are assisting the Nepalese government with efforts such as verifying the identities of the deceased."

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