The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
  • Multicultural Youth Award
Biz & Tech
  • Auto
  • IT
  • Game
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail & Food
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Airlines
Finance
  • Policies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Banks
  • Non-banks
  • Economic Essay Contest
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Arts
  • Books
  • Travel & Cuisine
  • Trend
  • Fashion
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
  • K-pop
  • K-dramas & Shows
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Performances
  • Asia Model Festival
Sports
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Baseball
  • Other Sports
World
  • Asia Pacific
  • Americas
  • Europe & Africa
  • SCMP
Video
  • On the Spot
  • Feature
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
Community
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
  • Multicultural Youth Award
Wed, January 20, 2021 | 23:08
All Hostages Released
Posted : 2007-08-31 00:38
Updated : 2007-08-31 00:38
Mail
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
By Yoon Won-sup, Jung Sung-ki, Emal Pashtunyar in Kabul
Staff Reporters

KABUL _ Taliban militants Thursday released the last seven Korean hostages _ three men and four women _ whom they had been holding in Afghanistan since July 19, in groups of four and three, ending a 43-day hostage crisis.

``We released the seven remaining hostages,'' Taliban spokesman Qari Yousaf Ahmadi told The Korea Times. ``They are in good health.''

The men are Song Byung-woo, 34; Seo Kyung-seok, 27; and Jae Chang-hee, 38; and the women are Lee Sung-eun, 24; Lee Young-kyung, 22; Kim Yun-young, 35; and Park Hye-young, 34.

The militants freed 12 hostages in Ghazni Province Wednesday in three batches of three, five and four, following Tuesday's agreement with Korean officials to release all the captives. Under the deal, Korea reaffirmed a pledge to withdraw 210 non-combatant troops from Afghanistan by the end of this year _ as previously planned _ and agreed to prevent any evangelical activities in the Central Asian nation by Korean churches.

All the 19 freed hostages will be transported together to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, after brief medical checkups at a nearby U.S. military base.

The hostages are expected to arrive at Incheon International Airport on Saturday, according officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said. They will be subsequently hospitalized at the Severance Hospital in Seoul for further medical checkups.

In Seoul, the Saemmul Church said that it will bear full responsibility for any expenditure incurred by the government for the release of the 21 hostages.

The chief pastor said the church will pay for their plane tickets; the return of the remains of two hostages killed by the Taliban; all medical treatment costs; and any other money used in negotiations. The hostages were all members of the Bundang-based church, which sent them as a volunteer aid group to Afghanistan.

The commitment was made after the government announced that it would seek compensation from the church as all costs linked to the hostage crisis were covered by taxpayers' money.

This is the first time for the government to seek compensation from any organization in Korea for freeing hostages.

Rumors are circulating that the government probably paid a substantial ransom for the freedom of the hostages. However, both Seoul and the Tabliban denied this was the case. Earlier reports said the militant group was demanding $500,000 per hostage.

The 21 were part of a group of 23 Christian volunteers mostly in their 20s and 30s who went to Afghanistan on July 13 to offer volunteer medical services. They were kidnapped by the Taliban on July 19 while traveling on a bus in Ghazni Province. The extremists later killed two men in the group, before freeing two female hostages who were reportedly ill.

The government will discuss the details of recompense with church at a later date.

``Now our focus is on the safe return of all the hostages,'' a ministry official said. ``But after the hostages return home, we will deal with the indemnity issue.''

yoonwonsup@koreatimes.co.kr
gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr
[Taliban]Taliban: We Have No Enmity Toward Korean People
Taliban spokesman Qari Yousaf Ahmadi delivered a message from the Taliban leadership to the Korean people through The Korea Times. The Taliban said they had no enmity toward Korean...
43-Day Drama for Hostages Ends
KABUL _ Taliban militants in Afghanistan released seven hostages Thursday evening in two batches of four and three. A Taliban negotiator Mullah Bashir told The Korea Times over...
[taliban]Church Will Shoulder Cost for Release of Hostages
The Sammul Church said Thursday that it will pay the government all the costs incurred for releasing the 19 hostages held in Afghanistan....









 
WooriBank
 
  • Conflicts over noise in apartments on the rise amid pandemic
  • Lee's imprisonment forces Samsung into emergency mode
  • Moon's remarks on 'adoption cancellation' spark controversy
  • Inauguration parade
  • Moon's changing stance on Japan linked to North Korea engagement: experts
  • Calls growing for better system to prevent child abuse
  • Speed skater sues ex-teammate over mental damage following Olympic controversy
  • Government push for profit-sharing angers conglomerates
  • Biden-Harris inauguration is taking shape [PHOTOS]
  • Low-priced blue-chip companies in green sectors expected to enjoy rally
  • K-pop expands from entertainment to activism K-pop expands from entertainment to activism
  • Red Velvet's Irene to make silver screen debut in February Red Velvet's Irene to make silver screen debut in February
  • 'The Uncanny Counter' writer leaves show despite soaring ratings 'The Uncanny Counter' writer leaves show despite soaring ratings
  • Boy group Cravity features in Airbnb's 'Inside K-pop' program Boy group Cravity features in Airbnb's 'Inside K-pop' program
  • Netflix to roll out more original series based on Korean webtoons in 2021 Netflix to roll out more original series based on Korean webtoons in 2021
DARKROOM
  • Biden-Harris inauguration is taking shape [PHOTOS]

    Biden-Harris inauguration is taking shape [PHOTOS]

  • Second Trump impeachment

    Second Trump impeachment

  • Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol

    Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol

  • Our children deserve better (Part 2)

    Our children deserve better (Part 2)

  • Migrants hard hit by COVID-19: UN migration agency

    Migrants hard hit by COVID-19: UN migration agency

WooriBank
  • About Korea Times
  • CEO Message
  • Times History
  • Content Sales
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Location
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Ombudsman
  • hankookilbo
  • Dongwha Group
  • Code of Ethics
Copyright