South Korean companies have decided to evacuate all non-essential personnel from Libya as the United States and its European allies continue to bomb ground targets throughout the country, the government said Sunday.
The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs said companies agreed to evacuate most of their workers from the North African country as an ongoing bombing campaign against Moammar Gadhafi's
forces may put its workers in danger.
There are presently 78 South Korean workers in Libya employed by such companies as Daewoo Engineering and Construction Co., Hyundai
Engineering and Construction Co., and Hanil Engineering and Construction Co. Before the unrest erupted last month, there were 1,341 Korean workers in the country.
"We have called on companies to take note of recommendations made by the foreign ministry that urged all Korean nationals to leave Libya for safety reasons," the ministry said.
It said companies wanted to pull their people out, but due to the need to protect construction sites and equipment, maintain contact with Libyan contractors and to receive payment for work carried out, some workers must stay.
The ministry said Daewoo and Hyundai hinted they each wanted to keep around eight to 10 construction supervisors in the country along
with some foreign workers. Other companies said one or two workers may have to remain.
Daewoo, meanwhile, said it will evacuate its non-essential employees by ship or land, with other companies looking at similar moves to get their people out of Libya as soon as possible.