During the wave of Korean labour migration to the Arab world in the 1970s and 1980s, many Koreans went to Arab countries of North Africa, including Libya, and to a lesser extent, Egypt and Sudan. Though Libya did not receive its first South Korean workers until 1977, it was the only Arab country which experienced consistent growth in the number of Korean workers between 1981 and 1985. By 1985 it had already become the Arab world's second most popular destination, with 23,138 arrivals from South Korea.
During the surge of Korean migrant labour to the Arab world in the 1970s and 1980s, many Koreans moved to North African countries, including Libya, and to a lesser extent, Egypt and Sudan. Although Libya did not receive its first South Korean workers until 1977, it was the only Arab country that experienced steady growth in the number of Korean workers between 1981 and 1985. By 1985 it had already become the Arab world's second most sought-after destination, with 23,138 arrivals from South Korea.