By Kang Hyun-kyung
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed the media report Monday that a Korean pastor identified as Cho Tae-hwan was killed by gunmen in the Philippines.
Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan will express concerns over the safety of Koreans living in and visiting the Philippines during a scheduled meeting with the secretary of foreign affairs of the Philippines this Friday.
“Minister Yu will ask the Philippine government to take necessary measures to protect Korean people and tourists there,” Kim Young-sun, spokesman for the foreign ministry, told reporters.
Yu will visit to the Philippines from Thursday. He will return to Seoul on Sunday.
Approximately 115,000 Koreans live in the southeastern nation. A growing number of Korean tourists visit the country.
The foreign ministry said the recent years have seen a growing number of incidents targeting Koreans in the Philippines.
Citing a national policy spokesman, the AFP reported that gunmen killed Cho and kidnapped two of his companions in an attack in a suburban area east of Manila, Monday.
Cho’s companions were taken at gunpoint but were later released unharmed, the spokesman was quoted as saying.
The AFP said the motive for the attack was not clear, although kidnap-for-ransom gangs often target foreign tourists and businessmen in areas near Manila and in the province.