--- title: "South Korea Recalls Eight Diplomats from Ukraine Amid North Korean POWs Scandal" description: "South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun announced the recall of eight diplomats from Ukraine amid a dispute with Kyiv over the disclosure of information regarding the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war." date: 2026-10-27T13:38:43.007Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/south-korea-recalls-diplomats-from-ukraine tags: [south-korea, ukraine, diplomacy, north-korea, prisoners-of-war] author: "Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # South Korea Recalls Eight Diplomats from Ukraine Amid North Korean POWs Scandal ![South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun speaking during an official briefing](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/27/yuzhnaya-koreya-otozvala-diplomatov-iz-ukrainy/yuzhnaya-koreya-otozvala-diplomatov-iz-ukrainy-1.webp) ## Key Points - South Korea recalled eight diplomatic staff members from Ukraine, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun announced on October 27. - The decision was made amid a dispute with Kyiv over the disclosure of information concerning the transfer of two North Korean POWs. - In early October, Seoul already recalled its ambassador to Kyiv, Park Ki-chan, and reduced embassy personnel. - The dispute began following Zelenskyy’s statement on September 23 at the UN General Assembly about the transfer of North Korean prisoners. - Seoul stated that support for Ukraine remains unchanged despite diplomatic tensions. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun announced on Tuesday, October 27, during a parliamentary review of the foreign ministry's work, that Seoul has recalled eight diplomatic staff members from Ukraine. According to him, the decision was made amid a lack of progress in resolving the dispute with Kyiv, which flared up around the disclosure of information regarding the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war. ### Course of the Diplomatic Dispute In early October, South Korea already recalled its ambassador to Kyiv, Park Ki-chan, and subsequently decided to reduce embassy personnel. Among the reasons for these steps, Cho Hyun cited the diplomatic scandal and the constant threat of Russian airstrikes on Ukrainian territory. At the same time, he emphasized that the core staff of the embassy remains in place and continues its work, including protecting South Korean citizens residing in Ukraine. ### How the Conflict Began The diplomatic dispute between Kyiv and Seoul escalated on September 23 when President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking at the UN General Assembly, announced the transfer of two North Korean POWs to South Korea. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung stated that the disclosure of this information violated a confidentiality agreement. Seoul explained that keeping the matter secret was necessary to protect soldiers remaining in North Korea and their families. ### Kyiv’s Position In turn, the Office of the President of Ukraine objected, pointing to the existing agreement to keep the case confidential. Thus, both sides cite confidentiality terms, yet they differ in assessing how exactly they were breached and who bears responsibility for the public disclosure of information. ### Possible Consequences Cho Hyun did not rule out that the dispute could escalate into a more serious conflict and damage diplomatic relations between the two countries if tensions continue to mount. At the same time, he stressed that South Korea's support for Ukraine remains unchanged: Seoul continues to participate in conferences on Ukraine’s recovery, provide humanitarian aid, and contribute to international efforts to end the war. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Южная Корея отозвала из Украины 8 дипломатов на фоне спора по поводу пленных из КНДР](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/pivdenna-koreya-vidklikala-ukrayini-8-diplomativ-1793107318.html) - Primary source; contains statements by Minister Cho Hyun, dates, and reasons for the recall. - [Южная Корея отозвала восемь дипломатов c Украины](https://www.rbc.ru/politics/27/10/2026/6ae085d08b1a9416e43eea7a) - Confirms the number (8) and the reason for the dispute, citing Yonhap. - [Южная Корея отозвала восемь дипломатов из Украины из-за угрозы ударов и неурегулированного ...](https://nv.ua/world/geopolitics/yuzhnaya-koreya-otozvala-diplomatov-iz-ukrainy-konflikt-iz-za-voennoplennyh-50653775.html) - Confirms the number, the threat of strikes, and continued contacts with the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry. - [Южная Корея отозвала из Украины восьмерых дипломатов из-за скандала с пленными КНДР](https://informator.ua/ru/pivdenna-koreya-vidklikala-z-ukrajini-vismoh-diplomativ-cherez-skandal-iz-polonenimi-kndr) - Confirms the number (8) and the statement by the Foreign Minister. ## FAQ ### How many diplomats did South Korea recall from Ukraine? Eight diplomatic staff members, as announced by Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on October 27. ### What was the reason for this step? Amid a dispute with Kyiv over the disclosure of information regarding the transfer of two North Korean POWs, as well as the threat of Russian airstrikes. ### Did the embassy staff remain in Ukraine? Yes, the core embassy staff remains in place and continues working, including to protect South Korean citizens.