[Breaking] South Korea to recall more embassy staff from Ukraine over North Korean POW dispute

The move comes after Seoul had already recalled its ambassador to Ukraine earlier this month

Rescue workers search through the rubble after a Russian airstrike in Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine on Oct. 20, 2026. (EPA/Yonhap)

South Korea has decided to withdraw some of its diplomatic staff from Ukraine, escalating a dispute that began when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly revealed that North Korean prisoners of war had been sent to South Korea.

The move comes after Seoul had already recalled its ambassador to Ukraine earlier this month.

“Even after the recall of our ambassador, Ukraine has taken no constructive action, and the persistent threat of airstrikes across the country makes it difficult to ensure safety,” Park Doo-soon, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said at a regular briefing Tuesday. “Taking these factors into account, the government has decided to withdraw some of its embassy staff.”

Necessary diplomatic communication between the two countries will continue through the chargé d’affaires during the withdrawal, Park said, adding that “all consular staff will remain in place and continue to do everything possible to protect South Korean nationals.”

Asked whether the withdrawal was meant as a diplomatic protest, the spokesperson said the government had “already conveyed its position to the Ukrainian side in various ways” and decided on the measure after concluding that Kyiv had taken no constructive steps.

Zelenskyy disclosed the transfer of the prisoners in a speech to the UN General Assembly on Sept. 23. The Blue House has demanded an apology, saying Ukraine broke an agreement to keep the matter confidential. On Oct. 8, Seoul recalled Park Ki-chang, its ambassador to Ukraine, as part of its continued stern response.