The South Korean government is further reducing its embassy staff in Ukraine in the wake of a diplomatic disagreement regarding prisoner-of-war (POW) information. This decision follows an earlier action taken by Seoul to recall its ambassador from Kyiv.

The tension stems from a recent incident where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly disclosed details regarding a prisoner transfer involving South Korean citizens or interests. The South Korean government viewed this disclosure as a breach of diplomatic protocol, leading to the initial recall of their top diplomat. By further thinning out the embassy staff, Seoul is signaling a continued cooling of diplomatic relations while the situation remains unresolved.

While the specific details of the prisoner transfer remain sensitive, the move highlights the friction between the two nations regarding how sensitive military and intelligence information is handled. South Korea has maintained a cautious approach to the conflict in Ukraine, and this reduction in personnel suggests that the government is prioritizing the security and privacy of its diplomatic mission over maintaining a full-scale presence in Kyiv at this time. No official timeline has been provided for when the ambassador or the additional staff might return to their posts.