Ukrainian nationals in South Korea and their supporters rally near the Russian Embassy in Seoul on Feb. 27, 2022, to protest against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, March 7 (Korea Bizwire) — A number of South Koreans have reportedly volunteered to join Ukraine’s military to fight against Russia’s invasion.
The Ukrainian Embassy in South Korea said it is receiving numerous calls about joining the war in Ukraine, most of which turned out to be from South Korean nationals.
“We’ve been notifying qualified applicants on how to join the military forces in Ukraine,” the embassy said.
The embassy said that a person should be at least 18 years of age with prior military experience in order to join.
“A number of volunteers have asked us to send them to Ukraine as soon as possible,” embassy sources said.
“No South Koreans have yet been sent to Ukraine.”
Following a recent public statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asking for volunteers to fight against the Russian invasion, a wave of volunteers from around the world including South Korea have been reaching out to join the fight.
“They are volunteering as individuals. They will be responsible for their own actions,” the embassy said.
In response, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that “the safety of the citizens comes as the first and foremost priority,” re-emphasizing the travel ban imposed on Ukraine.
Anyone who enters Ukraine without prior approval may be subject to penal measures in accordance with the Passport Act, the government said.
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
