(5th LD) S. Korea issues travel warning for Turkey over coup attempt

(ATTN: UPDATES with S. Koreans' status in paras 8-10)

SEOUL, July 16 (Yonhap) -- Seoul's foreign ministry issued a travel advisory for Turkey on Saturday amid a coup attempt in the country.

The government decided to issue the special travel warning, effective immediately, during an emergency meeting of relevant ministries, advising its citizens to leave the region or cancel non-essential trips there, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The warning will be effective until Aug. 29, and could be lifted early or extended according to the local situation.

"The ministry will keep a watchful eye on the situation in Turkey and be fully prepared to carry out safety measures," said Second Vice Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, during the meeting.

The Turkish military said Friday (local time) that it had taken full control of the country, but Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan later said the government is in charge again and those who attempted the military coup are being rounded up.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said 265 people have been killed, including 161 government officials and civilians, while 1,140 others have been injured. The government has detained 2,839 military personnel.

The foreign ministry earlier asked South Korean nationals traveling and living in Turkey not to venture outside and to check local news reports frequently.

Meanwhile, 110 South Koreans stuck at Istanbul Ataturk Airport due to the coup attempt are on their way home.

The foreign ministry said the Turkish Airlines plane carrying the South Koreans departed for Incheon International Airport at 9:50 p.m. Saturday, Korean time, and it's scheduled to land here around 6:50 a.m. Sunday.

With the airport shut down, about 120 South Koreans were stranded. A few traveled to another country, leaving 110 to board the flight home.

Separately, the ministry released a statement welcoming the end of the coup attempt in Turkey.

"We welcome the restoration of constitutional order in Turkey," the statement read. "To ensure continued development of the strategic partnership between South Korea and Turkey, we will main our closer cooperation with the Turkish government on the bilateral and multilateral levels."

colin@yna.co.kr

scaaet@yna.co.kr
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