Seoul to pull some embassy staff from Kyiv as NK POW dispute deepens

South Korea will withdraw some embassy staff from Ukraine after Kyiv failed to take what Seoul considered constructive steps in a dispute over the disclosure of two North Korean prisoners of war, while persistent airstrike threats raised safety concerns. The partial withdrawal follows Seoul’s recall of Ambassador Park Ki-chang on Oct. 8. Consular staff and personnel assisting Korean nationals will remain, and diplomatic communication will continue through the chargé d’affaires.

A South Korean foreign ministry official said 84 Koreans are in Ukraine, but did not specify how many are embassy staff or how many will leave.

The timing of the staff withdrawal will depend on safety conditions and consultations with Kyiv, which was notified in advance.

The dispute began after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed the transfer of two North Korean soldiers during his Sept. 23 U.N. General Assembly speech.

The two North Korean soldiers were captured while fighting for Russia in January 2025.

South Korea said Ukraine breached a confidentiality agreement intended to protect the soldiers and their families, while Kyiv denied that such an agreement existed.

Published Oct 20, 2026 3:10 pm KST

Updated Oct 20, 2026 5:57 pm KST

S. Korea intensifies protest to call for Ukraine's apology for breaching secrecy agreement

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gives a speech during the U.N. General Assembly at the U.N. headquarters in New York, Sept. 23. TASS-Yonhap

South Korea will pull some embassy staff out of Ukraine, citing Kyiv’s failure to take constructive steps to resolve a weekslong dispute sparked by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) to the South, the foreign ministry said Tuesday.

The decision adds pressure on Kyiv after South Korea recalled Ambassador Park Ki-chang on Oct. 8 over its refusal to acknowledge a confidentiality agreement on the transfer and issue a public apology. Park returned to Seoul on Oct. 10.

“The government decided to withdraw some embassy staff, considering Kyiv’s failure to take constructive steps even after our ambassador’s recall, along with persistent airstrike threats across Ukraine that make it difficult to ensure their safety,” foreign ministry spokesperson Park Doo-soon said at a regular briefing.

A ministry offcial said 84 Koreans are in Ukraine, including embassy staff, but did not say how many worked at the embassy and how many of them would leave. He explained that the timing of the partial withdrawal would depend on safety conditions and progress in consultations with Kyiv, which was notified in advance.

The spokesman said necessary diplomatic communication would continue through the chargé d’affaires. He also said embassy staff responsible for consular services and assisting Korean nationals would remain in the country.

Asked whether the withdrawal constituted a diplomatic protest, Park said Seoul had conveyed its position through various channels but determined that Kyiv had not taken corresponding steps.

"The purpose of this measure is to find an amicable solution to the issue and restore trust through close consultation with the Ukrainian side," Park said. "As to our position, Ukraine has its part to answer and respond."

Asked about possible further measures, he reiterated the call for Ukraine to respond sincerely to South Korea’s requests so the two countries could improve relations.

Addressing concerns that reducing embassy staff could deepen the dispute despite European offers to help, Park said Seoul remained committed to a negotiated resolution but expected Kyiv to address its demands.

The dispute began after Zelenskyy revealed the transfer during his U.N. General Assembly speech on Sept. 23.

The two soldiers had been captured while fighting for Russia in January 2025.

President Lee Jae Myung expressed regret the following day over what Seoul called a breach of an agreement to keep the transfer secret to protect the soldiers and their families in North Korea.

But Kyiv denied that such an agreement existed, prompting Lee to demand an acknowledgment and public apology and warn of further measures.

After the recall, Kyiv also described Seoul’s response as emotional and said it considered the issue closed.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun later said a message from his Ukrainian counterpart contained an apology but fell short of Seoul’s expectations.

Despite the dispute, a foreign ministry official said Oct. 15 that South Korea would continue providing aid to war-torn Ukraine “as a responsible member of the international community,” treating assistance separately from the diplomatic row. The ministry did not disclose what aid South Korea has been providing.

由于基辅方面未能就两名朝鲜战俘的披露问题采取首尔认为具有建设性的措施，且持续不断的空袭威胁引发了安全担忧，韩国将撤回部分驻乌克兰大使馆人员。此次部分撤离是在首尔于10月8日召回韩国驻乌克兰大使朴基昌之后进行的。领事人员和为韩国公民提供援助的人员将继续留任，外交沟通将通过临时代办进行。

韩国外交部一名官员表示，目前有84名韩国人在乌克兰，但没有具体说明其中有多少是使馆工作人员，也没有说明有多少人将离开。

人员撤离的时间将取决于安全状况以及与基辅方面的磋商，基辅方面已事先收到通知。

这场争端始于乌克兰总统泽连斯基在9月23日联合国大会上的讲话中披露了向乌克兰转移两名朝鲜士兵的消息。

2025年1月，两名朝鲜士兵在为俄罗斯作战时被俘。

韩国方面表示，乌克兰违反了旨在保护士兵及其家属的保密协议，而基辅方面则否认存在这样的协议。

发布于2026年10月20日下午3:10（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月20日下午5:57（韩国标准时间）

韩国加大抗议力度，要求乌克兰就违反保密协议道歉

9月23日，乌克兰总统泽连斯基在纽约联合国总部举行的联合国大会上发表讲话。（塔斯社-韩联社）

韩国外交部周二表示，韩国将从乌克兰撤回部分大使馆人员，理由是基辅方面未能采取建设性措施解决因乌克兰总统泽连斯基披露将两名朝鲜战俘移交给韩国而引发的持续数周的争端。

此前，韩国因基辅拒绝承认有关人员调动的保密协议并公开道歉，于10月8日召回了驻韩大使朴基昌。此举无疑给基辅施加了更大的压力。朴基昌于10月10日返回首尔。

外交部发言人朴斗顺在例行记者会上表示：“鉴于基辅方面在我国大使被召回后仍未采取建设性措施，加上乌克兰境内持续不断的空袭威胁，使得确保使馆人员的安全变得困难，因此政府决定撤回部分使馆人员。”

一位韩国外交部官员表示，目前有84名韩国人在乌克兰，其中包括使馆工作人员，但他没有透露有多少人曾在使馆工作，也没有说明其中有多少人将离开。他解释说，部分撤离的时间将取决于安全形势以及与基辅方面磋商的进展，基辅方面已事先收到通知。

发言人表示，必要的外交沟通将继续通过临时代办进行。他还表示，负责领事服务和协助韩国公民的使馆工作人员将继续留在韩国。

当被问及撤军是否构成外交抗议时，朴槿惠表示，首尔已通过各种渠道表达了立场，但认定基辅没有采取相应的措施。

朴槿惠表示：“此举旨在通过与乌克兰方面密切磋商，寻求解决问题的友好方案，并重建互信。至于我们的立场，乌克兰方面也需要作出回应。”

当被问及可能采取的进一步措施时，他重申呼吁乌克兰真诚回应韩国的要求，以便两国能够改善关系。

针对欧洲方面提出帮助，减少使馆人员可能会加剧争端的担忧，朴槿惠表示，首尔仍然致力于通过谈判解决问题，但希望基辅能够满足其要求。

这场争议始于泽连斯基在9月23日联合国大会演讲中透露了这一调动。

这两名士兵于 2025 年 1 月在为俄罗斯作战时被俘。

第二天，李在明总统对首尔方面所称的违反保密协议表示遗憾，该协议旨在保护朝鲜士兵及其家属的安全。

但基辅方面否认存在这样的协议，这促使李要求基辅方面承认该协议并公开道歉，并警告将采取进一步措施。

召回事件发生后，基辅方面也形容首尔的反应是情绪化的，并表示认为此事已经结束。

韩国外交部长赵显铉后来表示，乌克兰方面发来的信息包含道歉，但并未达到首尔方面的预期。

尽管存在争议，韩国外交部一位官员于10月15日表示，韩国将继续“作为国际社会负责任的成员”向饱受战争蹂躏的乌克兰提供援助，并将援助与外交争端分开处理。外交部并未透露韩国具体提供了哪些援助。