South Korean Foreign Minister visits Nepal to coordinate search for nine missing nationals

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is conducting a three-day official visit to Nepal to coordinate search and rescue efforts for nine South Korean nationals missing after devastating floods and landslides. The individuals, including technical experts from Doosan Enerbility and Korea South-East Power, went missing on August 26 while working at the Upper Trishuli hydropower project in the Rasuwa District.

During meetings with Nepalese Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal, Minister Cho requested intensified search operations and discussed bilateral cooperation regarding disaster response and reconstruction. South Korea has dispatched the Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT) to the site, equipped with search, rescue, and forensic tools. While ground searches by the KDRT and Nepalese military have faced challenges due to dangerous terrain, aerial searches using helicopters and drones are ongoing.

In addition to search efforts, South Korea has pledged approximately 1.3 billion won in relief supplies and $1 million in humanitarian assistance through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The two nations also agreed to strengthen coordination on climate change at international forums.