[THE INVESTOR] GM Korea will voluntarily recall 712 vehicles with Takata air bags, the government said on May 17.

The recall -- set to begin May 28 -- affects the carmaker’s Saab 9-3 and 9-5 produced between July 2005 and September 2008, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Another five models will be recalled once the company secures improved air bags, it said.

Concerns have been rising over the models’ air bags built by Japan’s Takata, which could potentially hurt drivers when they are deployed. Dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries have been reported worldwide in connection with the air bags‘ inflators.

No accidents have been reported in Korea so far, but the government asked car importers in June 2016 to voluntarily expand recalls on vehicles with the problematic air bags.

People who fixed their cars’ defects on their own before the recall was issued are eligible for compensation from the automakers.

The ministry advised owners of the vehicles to visit the recall center’s website at www.car.go.kr to get information on the recall.

By Song Seung-hyun and newswires (ssh@heraldcorp.com)