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.
As a result of the large-scale migration of Koreans to the Arab world during the 1970s and 1980s, many Koreans settled in North African countries, including Libya, as well as Egypt and Sudan to a lesser extent. Although Libya did not start receiving Korean workers until 1977, it was the only Arab country that saw an increase in the number of Korean migrant workers between 1981 and 1985. By 1985, it had become the most popular destination for Koreans in the Arab world, with 23,138 arrivals from South Korea.