A group of South Korean Christians has left the country to participate in a procession through the Israeli city of Jerusalem, despite government efforts to dissuade the group from its trip.

A Foreign Ministry official said Monday the 100 Koreans, grouped into five pilgrimage teams of 10 to 30, will travel to Israel after making their way through Syria, Jordan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

The foreign ministry says it has directed Korean embassies to pay attention to the group's security matters. It is also asking the Israeli Tourism Ministry and police for help in ensuring the safety of the Koreans.

The government had previously called on the organizers to refrain from joining the procession out of concern that it may be provocative to Muslim nations.

"Jerusalem 2004," set to begin on August 7th, refers to a peace procession through a five-kilometer stretch between Jerusalem and Palestine, which will involve some 2,300 Protestant Christians from around the world.