SEOUL, June 17 (AJP) - As military tensions between Israel and Iran continue to escalate, South Korea’s largest technology firms are relocating employees and implementing precautionary measures to safeguard their personnel in the region.
Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics confirmed Tuesday that they have withdrawn South Korean staff and their families from Israel, relocating them to neighboring Jordan in response to growing security concerns.
Samsung, which maintains a semiconductor research and development center and a local marketing unit in Israel, completed the relocation over the weekend. The company has since shifted its Israeli operations to remote work until further notice.
LG Electronics, which operates a smaller sales presence in Israel, enacted similar evacuation procedures for its Korean employees. The company has also issued a group-wide advisory prohibiting business travel to the Middle East.
Hyundai Motor Group, which distributes vehicles in Israel through local dealerships, is continuing operations with caution, adhering to guidance from the Israeli government. While the company has scaled back active sales efforts, long-term projects — including the construction of a new manufacturing plant in Saudi Arabia slated to open next year — remain on schedule.
Elsewhere in the region, Hyosung TNC, a textiles and materials company that operates a spandex production facility in Turkiye, reported that operations are proceeding normally. The company said it is closely monitoring regional developments for any potential escalation.
The South Korean government is also preparing for possible economic ripple effects.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups convened a task force on June 16 to assess the potential impact of the conflict on small and medium-sized enterprises engaged in trade with the Middle East. Officials reviewed a range of scenarios, including shipping delays and interruptions to import and export flows.
While some risks have been identified, the ministry has so far concluded that the direct impact on Korean SMEs remains limited.
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