Korean companies step up safety measures after Iran strikes

A departure board displays a canceled Dubai-bound flight at Incheon Airport, Sunday. Yonhap

Korean companies operating across the Middle East are scrambling to shore up contingency plans, as turmoil deepens across the region following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran that led to the death of its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Major conglomerates with operations in Iran, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are moving swiftly to secure the safety of employees and assess business risks.

Samsung Electronics said it has so far confirmed no casualties among its employees in the Middle East, including Iran.

“At this point, we have not identified any damage or casualties,” the company's official said. “We plan to do everything possible to ensure the safety of our employees.”

LG Electronics has confirmed the safety of its regional staff and implemented protective measures. It evacuated a Korean employee stationed in Iran last week, while those in the Israel branch are preparing to depart in line with embassy guidance.

The company has also issued travel warnings to its employees in other Middle Eastern countries and advised them to take safety precautions.

Hanwha Group is also stepping up efforts to take measures for its employees in the region, where it operates defense, finance and machinery businesses in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait.

An oil tanker is pictured offshore Dubai, Sunday. AFP-Yonhap

It is currently participating in the Bismayah New City project, a massive urban development in Iraq, with 123 employees and 172 people, including their family members, on-site.

The group’s chairman, Kim Seung-youn, has prioritized securing the safety of its Middle East-based employees and has taken all necessary measures.

The group’s affiliates have set up round-the-clock communication channels with local sites to track the safety of the employees and their families, while maintaining close coordination with Korean diplomatic missions and local Korean associations to help safeguard the broader community in the region.

Airlines and shipping companies are also responding in real time, with Korean Air canceling and diverting flights on its Incheon and Dubai routes after the strikes Saturday. The company, which is the only domestic carrier that offers daily round-trip flights to the region, has decided to suspend both flights departing from Incheon and Dubai through March 5.

Shipping companies, including HMM and Pan Ocean, are also preparing contingency measures, as the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil and shipping traffic, could be blocked amid the growing tension.

HMM currently has one container vessel transiting the strait and an additional six to seven vessels either heading toward or sailing near the area, with plans to determine further action depending on how the crisis unfolds.

Pan Ocean is also monitoring developments and is preparing to implement alternative measures such as rerouting, holding vessels offshore or suspending operations.