By Yoon Won-sup
with Emal Pashtunyar in Kabul
KABUL _ The Taliban confirmed Monday that they haded over two female hostages to the officials of the International Committee of the Red Crescent (ICRC) in Ghazni Province where the Korean delegation and the Taliban had face-to-face negotiations.
The hostages are on their way to Ghazni City, the Taliban said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Seoul formally identified the two hostages as Kim Gyeong-ja, 37, and Kim Ji-na, 32. The two ill hostages have been freed in 26 days since they were kidnapped with 21 others on July 19.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Cho Hee-young said that they had been handed over to the Korean side.
"They are under our protection at safe place. They will get health and other checks. We think it is fortunate for even the two of the hostages have been freed," Cho told reporters.
Kim Ji-na is reported to have been in poor health as he has suffered from spinal disease. Kim had pain-killers for one week use with her when she was leaving Seoul for Afghanistan on July 13, according to her family.
Majoring in home management and also studying juvinile psychology as another major at Sookmyung University, Kim was to take charge of teaching children during the volunteer service in Afghanistan. Kim also went overseas for volunteer service in 2005.
She worked for three to four years at an animation-related company, after learning computer animation at a private learning center.
Kim Gyeong-ja was reported to have detained with three others - the late Shim Sung-min, Ji-na and Lee Ji-young - when Japanese TV NHK aired their voice on July 29. But it was thought strange as Kim's voice was not heard.
Kim, second among one son and two sisters of her family in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, told her family that her destination is "Dubai" but not "Afghanistan" for probable worry. Kim is reported to have joined the volunteer service, taking leave from her company in Seocho-dong, southern Seoul.
Kim Gyeong-ja is reported to have no particular disease but her health seems to have worsened beause of poor detention life and comparatively older age.