South Korea plans to file a charge against its citizens illegally staying in Libya this week for defying a government order to leave the war-torn country for safety reasons, the foreign ministry said Sunday.
Currently, 13 South Koreans are in Libya despite Seoul's travel ban on the North African country in the midst of a civil war. The travel ban, imposed in early March, will remain in place until May 14.
"We informed South Korean citizens staying illegally in Libya last week of our plan to bring a charge with police if they refuse to leave the country by Wednesday," a ministry official said, requesting not to be named. "The ministry will take action later this week if the ultimatum is not met.
On March 29, the ministry ordered 14 South Korean residents in Libya to leave the country. So far, only one of them has left.
Four of the 13 illegal sojourners have said they intend to flee Libya to safety, the official said.
Most of the 13 South Koreans are self-employed in Libya, making it difficult for them to leave.
The government decided to take the measure since they have already been given more than two weeks of time to leave and due to the political unrest in the country, the official said.
Violations of the travel ban carry up to a one-year prison sentence or 3 million won (US$2,700) in fines.
Currently, there are about 50 South Korean nationals, including 10 embassy employees and their families, staying in the country.