On 8 April 2026, diplomatic officials from Turkmenistan and South Korea met in Seoul to conduct bilateral consultations on consular affairs.
The Turkmen delegation was led by Ahmet Gurbanov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. The South Korean side was headed by Lim Sang-woo, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea for Public Diplomacy.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, both parties focused on intensifying efforts to improve and update the existing legal and regulatory framework between the two nations.
Based on a press release from the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting covered a wide range of pressing consular issues, including:
- Evacuation Cooperation: Coordinating the evacuation of South Korean citizens from Iran via Turkmenistan due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
- Citizen Protection: Ensuring the safety and protection of South Korean nationals residing in or visiting Turkmenistan.
- Travel Facilitation: Streamlining entry and exit procedures for South Korean citizens traveling to Turkmenistan.
During the discussions, Lim Sang-woo expressed deep gratitude to the Turkmen government for its active assistance in the safe evacuation of approximately 30 individuals from Iran. These evacuations took place via Turkmenistan in both June of last year and March of this y
The Korean representative requested continued support to ensure the safety of Korean nationals should further emergencies arise.
In response, Gurbanov affirmed that Turkmenistan would provide maximum assistance, including the designation of specific border checkpoints for evacuation purposes if necessary.
Both parties shared the view that protecting their respective citizens and enhancing their welfare through consular cooperation is of vital importance. They agreed that this inaugural meeting served as a valuable opportunity for in-depth discussion on pressing consular issues between the two nations./// nCa, 8 April 2026