The webpage introducing Samsung's R&D Institute in Herzliya, Israel / Screenshot from Samsung Research website

The Israel-Hamas war, which broke out on Saturday after the Palestinian militant group launched an abrupt attack, has put Korean companies doing business there on alert for potential damage and disruptions to their operations. As a consequence, Korean companies are now preparing to evacuate personnel, according to industry officials, Monday.

Samsung is monitoring the safety of hundreds of its employees there, including around 10 Korean staff, ordering them to work from home. The conglomerate runs a subsidiary in Israel, as well as an R&D center in Tel Aviv and a research institute in Herzliya, 14 kilometers north of Tel Aviv.

Just a week before the outbreak of the war, Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong visited the company's R&D center in Israel for an update on its investments in startups and new technologies there and to address ways to secure future technologies through open innovation. Samsung has invested in Israeli startups specializing in artificial intelligence and robotics.

"Our Israeli subsidiary and research facilities are over 100 kilometers from the border," a Samsung official said. "We confirmed that there is no damage to our employees and offices there."

LG Electronics, which operates an Israeli branch in Tel Aviv, also ordered local employees to work from home, while it assesses the safety situation there. The electronics maker acquired a controlling stake in an Israeli cybersecurity company called Cybellum in 2021, as part of efforts to boost ties with the country's innovative tech firms.

"The Israeli branch is regularly checking the safety of local employees," an LG Electronics official said.

Hyundai Motor and Kia, both of which are the top-selling car brands in Israel, have remained vigilant about the safety of their local sales agents and Hyundai Cradle Tel Aviv, the carmaker's open innovation center in Israel. According to Hyundai Motor Group, no harm to agents or damage to the center has been reported.

Flight information shows the cancellation of Korean Air's Incheon-Tel Aviv flight KE957, Monday. Screenshot from Korean Air's website

Korean Air canceled Monday's Incheon-Tel Aviv flight while delaying the Tel Aviv-Incheon flight by 15 hours. The carrier usually operates direct flights between Incheon and Tel Aviv every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

As of Monday, the airline had yet to decide whether to continue flights after Wednesday. Given that Hamas reportedly launched a rocket attack on Ben Gurion International Airport, many carriers are suspending flights from Tel Aviv.

Korean Air advised passengers on its website that flights may be delayed or canceled due to the situation in Israel and advised passengers with reservations that could be affected to check the status of their flights in advance.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to cooperate with Korean Air and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the evacuation of Korean nationals in Israel.

The foreign ministry said that there have been no injuries reported concerning Korean nationals in the country. There are around 570 Koreans who are long-term residents of Israel and around 360 Korean tourists staying there when the fighting broke out.

However, the foreign ministry issued a special travel advisory and recommended that Korean nationals leave Israel, raising expectations that Korean companies operating there would evacuate their Korean employees. For now, the ministry said it is not considering sending a military transport plane to evacuate Korean nationals.

The presidential office is also analyzing the possible impact of the war on the Korean economy and national security, with National Security Adviser Cho Tae-yong receiving regular updates on the situation in the Middle East.