A group of military engineers and medics has left for Afghanistan to help U.S.-led coalition forces rebuild the war-devastated nation.

The 181-strong main contingent of the Dasan and Dong-eui units left Seoul Friday, following the departure of a 24-member advance team last week.

The troops will join allied forces from 19 countries north of Kabul for the next six months to provide medical and humanitarian assistance to war refugees.

The new contingent is replacing some two hundred military compatriots who are scheduled to return home Saturday after a six-month mission in the central Asian country.

Some two hundred South Korean troops have been deployed in Afghanistan on a six-month rotation since February 2002 at Washington's request.