[Exclusive] Samsung and LG Withdraw Employees from Ukraine Amid Growing Tensions...

Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, and Others Operate Sales Corporations in Ukraine
Initially Prepared for Emergency Situations, Recently Ordered Urgent Withdrawal

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Sunmi Park and Hyeyoung Lee] As the government has urgently issued a legally binding 'travel ban' across Ukraine, Korean companies operating locally are also participating in the repatriation of their nationals, except for essential personnel.

According to the industry on the 14th, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, which have sales corporations in Ukraine, recently repatriated the families of their expatriates first and have completed the withdrawal of employees remaining on site. Some are being temporarily relocated to other overseas regions or are in the process of moving back to Korea.

Currently, about 10 Korean companies have corporations or branches in Ukraine, including Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, Hyundai Corporation, POSCO International, Hankook Tire, Ecovis, and Osstem Implant.

Most Korean companies have responded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' policy by repatriating the families of expatriates in Ukraine in preparation for the escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, leaving only essential personnel necessary for business operations on site.

However, as tensions between Russia and Ukraine have recently escalated, some companies have relocated even their dispatched employees to other safer regions or repatriated them to Korea.

A Hankook Tire official also said, "We are preparing to withdraw employees according to the guidance of the Ukrainian embassy." According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, about 300 Koreans are staying in Ukraine, and it is expected that more than 100 will depart within 2 to 3 days.

However, some Korean companies are hesitant to fully withdraw their dispatched employees due to concerns that re-entry would be difficult. Given the complex and frequently changing systems and regulations in the Ukrainian market, as well as unique business practices and language barriers, market entry is challenging, and once withdrawn, re-entry is difficult.

KOTRA, which has a trade office in Kyiv, Ukraine, said, "Since there are still companies that have not withdrawn, we are establishing a response system with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, leaving only one local director and one staff member to support local businesspeople and Korean residents."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.