South Korea has withdrawn eight diplomatic personnel from Ukraine amid a dispute over the disclosure of a North Korean prisoner transfer, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said on Tuesday, Oct. 27.
Speaking during a parliamentary audit of his ministry, Cho confirmed the departures and said he remained in contact with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Yonhap reported.
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“Eight have been withdrawn so far,” Cho said.
He attributed the decision to what Seoul considers an inadequate Ukrainian response to its concerns. Essential staff remain in Ukraine to assist South Korean citizens amid continued Russian attacks.
“I have continued communicating with the Ukrainian foreign minister to resolve the issue as soon as possible,” he added.
Prisoner disclosure sparks diplomatic fallout
The dispute began after President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the transfer of two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea during his address to the UN General Assembly on Sept. 23.
The soldiers had been captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region in January 2025 while fighting alongside Russian troops. According to South Korean officials, they arrived in South Korea in mid-September 2026.
Seoul says the two governments agreed to keep the arrangement confidential to protect the soldiers and their relatives who remain in North Korea.
However, Ukraine has disputed that account. Zelensky’s office said South Korea had been informed beforehand that the president intended to mention the transfer in his speech. Kyiv also maintained that he had revealed neither the soldiers’ identities nor sensitive operational details.
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The disagreement therefore centers on whether publicly confirming the transfer breached an understanding between the two governments. Seoul demanded an official explanation, an apology, and assurances that such a disclosure would not happen again.
Ambassador’s recall preceded staff withdrawal
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung warned on Oct. 2 that Seoul could take further measures unless Ukraine acknowledged its concerns and apologized.
Cho subsequently confirmed that Sybiha had sent a message containing an apology, but said it fell short of South Korea’s expectations.
Seoul announced on Oct. 8 that it would recall its ambassador, Park Ki-chang. The diplomat returned to South Korea on Oct. 10.
On Oct. 20, the Foreign Ministry announced that it would also withdraw embassy personnel. Ministry spokesperson Park Doo-soon cited both the unresolved dispute and persistent Russian airstrikes, which he said made ensuring staff safety difficult.
At that point, Seoul said necessary diplomatic contacts would continue through its chargé d’affaires and that consular personnel would remain to protect South Korean nationals.
The ministry also planned to contact approximately 85 South Koreans in Ukraine about whether they wanted assistance leaving the country.
Captured soldiers sought a new life
The two prisoners’ transfer followed months of uncertainty over their future.
After initially rejecting an offer to relocate to South Korea, the soldiers reportedly changed their minds later in 2025. A letter shown by activists indicated that they wanted to begin a new life there.
Their capture was announced on Jan. 11, 2025. One carried Russian military identification documents, while the other had no identification, according to Ukrainian accounts.
Their cases emerged as North Korea’s military support for Moscow became increasingly visible. Russia initially denied reports of North Korean troop deployments before acknowledging their participation in fighting in April 2025.
Despite the diplomatic fallout, Cho said South Korea’s broader support for Ukraine remained unchanged, including humanitarian assistance, participation in reconstruction conferences, and international efforts to end the war.
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