 Relatives of South Koreans kidnapped in Afghanistan sit and collect news report about the possible release of two female South Korean hostages in Sungnam, south of Seoul, South Korea, Monday. The hostages have been released and are expected to return to Korea Thursday. / AP-Yonhap |
By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
The two recently released Korean hostages, Kim Gyeong-ja and Kim Ji-na, may return home as early as Wednesday. A source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Tuesday that they are currently staying with the Dongui Medical Unit, a Korean military unit in the U.S. Bagram Air Base, 60 kilometers north of Kabul in Afghanistan.
They underwent a medical checkup after arriving on the base and are said to be in better condition than earlier reported. The two will be flown to Kabul by helicopter escorted by American and Afghanistan forces, and then on to Dubai accompanied by a military medical team. From there they are expected to arrive at Incheon International Airport by civilian aircraft after one or two days, depending on their health.
The bodies of the late Bae Hyung-kyu and Shim Sung-min were repatriated using the same route.
Meanwhile, Koreans welcomed the release of the women and prayed for the safe return of the others. ``I was very worried after the release of the two hostages was delayed on Sunday. I am very relieved hearing that the two were finally freed. I hope that the remainder will soon be freed,'' said Kim Byung-ryong, 22, a college student in Seoul.
``The government should negotiate in a more aggressive manner in cooperation with the U.S. for the release of the other hostages,'' said Park Yong-tae, 31, an office worker in Gyonggi Province.
However, some netizens had a cold reaction to the news. ``It is a relief that you are alive and I hope the rest of hostages come back alive also. But you two need to make public apology to the Korean people who have worried a lot about you,'' an Internet user with the ID ``jwonmin'' said.
``I hope they will never do this again. Also they have to remember there are a lot of poor people in Korea as well. Their volunteering activities should be carried out for people in our country,'' a netizen identified as ``swdmsb'' said.
kswho@koreatimes.co.kr
