South Korean foreign minister visits Nepal as search continues for nine missing nationals

Kathmandu, September 6, 2026 — South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun arrived in Nepal on Saturday for a three-day official visit, with the search for nine South Korean nationals missing after the devastating floods and landslides in Rasuwa among the key issues on his agenda.

The nine South Korean nationals went missing after the disaster struck on August 26 while they were working at the Upper Trishuli hydropower project.

During his visit, Cho is scheduled to meet his Nepali counterpart, Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal, as well as other government officials. He is also expected to meet the families of the missing South Korean nationals and receive updates on the ongoing search and rescue operations.

The discussions are expected to focus on relief, rescue and rehabilitation efforts in areas affected by the floods and landslides, along with various aspects of Nepal-South Korea bilateral relations.

The nine missing South Korean nationals are senior technical experts working at the 216-megawatt Upper Trishuli hydropower project.

The project, which has received significant investment from a South Korean public company, was reported to be around 95 percent complete when the disaster struck. Test production had been expected to begin in July 2027.

Cho's visit comes as search and rescue operations continue in disaster-affected areas of Rasuwa, where devastating flooding and landslides caused extensive loss of life and infrastructure damage.

The visit is also expected to strengthen bilateral relations between Nepal and South Korea and promote greater cooperation and coordination in disaster response and other areas of mutual interest.