The South Korean Embassy in Turkey has requested the transfer of its mission to a safer location within the capital out of fears of possible terrorist attacks.

Quoting an embassy official in Ankara, a government official said the mission is constantly exposed to terrorist threats following the recent construction of high-rise apartment buildings near the embassy compound.

The official says such a request is unprecedented in that it cites terrorist threats as a reason for transfer. In the past, diplomatic missions had been moved in line with the relocation of the capital city of host countries or due to aging of facilities.

Officials say the terrorist bomb attacks at the British Consulate in Istanbul that killed 25 people last November also affected the South Korean embassy's decision to make the request.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry in Seoul reportedly has secured some 1.2 billion won to strengthen security facilities in foreign missions as part of efforts to counter possible terrorist attacks.