The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_X_on_2023.svgbt_X_over_2023.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_X_on_2023.svgbt_X_over_2023.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    BTS' V and BLACKPINK's Jennie break up: sources

  • 3

    Italy withdraws from China's Belt and Road project

  • 5

    Uncertainty lingers despite BLACKPINK's contract renewal

  • 7

    YG Entertainment's stock price soars over renewed contract with BLACKPINK

  • 9

    TvN's upcoming music drama 'Maestra' weaves suspenseful love story with twists

  • 11

    Yoon expected to replace foreign minister soon

  • 13

    INTERVIEWKorea has great opportunity to lead green transition

  • 15

    INTERVIEWNamseoul University leads adoption of innovative IB education programs

  • 17

    Apple ordered to pay 70,000 won each to 7 iPhone users for device slowdown

  • 19

    Real estate project financing poses biggest risk to Korean economy in 2024: S&P, NICE

  • 2

    Korea could disappear from map if it doesn't welcome more immigrants: justice minister

  • 4

    Late K-pop star Moonbin's memorial space shut down after fans complain

  • 6

    Korean students rank among top performers among OECD nations in educational performance: report

  • 8

    Senior citizens take up half of new job posts in 2022: data

  • 10

    Boeing eyes more Chinook helicopter exports to S. Korea

  • 12

    KAI boosts partnerships with Egypt at defense fair

  • 14

    Rising Thai politician seeks to tackle growing challenges between Seoul, Bangkok

  • 16

    Twitch plans to shut down in Korea over high network costs

  • 18

    Hotels grapple with chronic staff shortages

  • 20

    Naver takes on YouTube, AfreecaTV in game streaming

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Fri, December 8, 2023 | 09:14
Foreign Affairs
Korean man held hostage in Libya returns home
Posted : 2019-05-18 16:41
Updated : 2019-05-18 19:56
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
The Korean man, who was abducted in Libya last July and released earlier this week, speaks to reporters at Incheon International Airport, Saturday. Yonhap
The Korean man, who was abducted in Libya last July and released earlier this week, speaks to reporters at Incheon International Airport, Saturday. Yonhap

A South Korean man, who was abducted in Libya last July and released this week, expressed gratitude to the government for its rescue efforts upon his arrival home Saturday.

The 62-year-old, identified only by his surname Joo, was taken hostage, along with three Filipinos, by a group of 10 armed militants July 6 while working at a desalination plant in western Libya. He was released Thursday after 315 days in captivity.

"President (Moon Jae-in) and staff from the foreign ministry, as well as embassy staff in Abu Dhabi, took great pains to rescue me over the 315 days," Joo told a throng of reporters at Incheon International Airport.

Joo also extended his appreciation to the United Arab Emirates, which Cheong Wa Dae said played a crucial role in the process of rescuing him from the militant group.

Looking tired, he called the days of captivity "nightmare-like."

"I also thank my God very much ... who had been with me during the nightmare-like 315 days," he said. "All thanks to you, I am in good shape, though I have lost 10 kilograms."

Asked about the toughest challenge he faced during captivity, Joo said missing his family and having difficulty with the food.

He also left a message to four South Koreans who have rejected the government's call to leave Libya, citing livelihood concerns. "I think it would be better to get out," he said.

Joo is known to have worked in Libya for decades, a reason why he could not easily leave the country despite the travel restrictions that Seoul imposed in 2014.

A foreign ministry official said Joo is unlikely to face any punitive measure for having stayed in Libya despite the restrictions.

After he was held hostage last year, Seoul took stronger measures to prevent South Koreans from traveling to Libya, including revoking their passports. But applying such a measure to Joo was "inappropriate" as they were put in place after he was abducted, the official said. (Yonhap)


 
wooribank
LG group
Top 10 Stories
1Hotels grapple with chronic staff shortages Hotels grapple with chronic staff shortages
2'Moon gov't neglected, concealed North's killing of S. Korean official' 'Moon gov't neglected, concealed North's killing of S. Korean official'
3CJ Olive Young fined 1.89 bil. won for unfair supply contracts CJ Olive Young fined 1.89 bil. won for unfair supply contracts
4Giant panda statue at Everland Giant panda statue at Everland
5[INTERVIEW] 'Now is time for Koreans to unlock potential in Africa' INTERVIEW'Now is time for Koreans to unlock potential in Africa'
6SK reshuffles top management focusing on generational shiftSK reshuffles top management focusing on generational shift
7K-dramas, beauty, food to maintain popularity on TikTok in 2024K-dramas, beauty, food to maintain popularity on TikTok in 2024
8Scholar's decades-long expertise serves as inspiration for Korea's future FDI Scholar's decades-long expertise serves as inspiration for Korea's future FDI
9Lawyer of Korean descent selected as chair of Dentons Global Board Lawyer of Korean descent selected as chair of Dentons Global Board
10Japan's Nikkei-linked ELS issuance surpasses HK-linked ELS Japan's Nikkei-linked ELS issuance surpasses HK-linked ELS
Top 5 Entertainment News
1[INTERVIEW] Meet the man behind giant rubber ducks that once took over Seoul INTERVIEWMeet the man behind giant rubber ducks that once took over Seoul
2'Soundtrack #2' tells classic yet realistic love story 'Soundtrack #2' tells classic yet realistic love story
3Auction house Phillips appoints new regional director of Korea Auction house Phillips appoints new regional director of Korea
4[REVIEW] Musical 'Monte Cristo' returns with riveting tale of vengeance, love REVIEWMusical 'Monte Cristo' returns with riveting tale of vengeance, love
5Late K-pop star Moonbin's memorial space shut down after fans complain Late K-pop star Moonbin's memorial space shut down after fans complain
DARKROOM
  • It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

    It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

  • 2023 Thanksgiving parade in NYC

    2023 Thanksgiving parade in NYC

  • Appreciation of autumn colors

    Appreciation of autumn colors

  • Our children deserve better

    Our children deserve better

  • Israel-Gaza conflict erupts into war

    Israel-Gaza conflict erupts into war

  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel: 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844
Date of registration: 2020.02.05
Masthead: The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group