19 Freed Hostages Will Return to Korea over Weekend

The remaining seven Korean captives being held hostage in Afghanistan by the Taliban militants are expected to be freed in the late afternoon of August 30.

They include 5 female captives: Kim Yoon-yeong, a teacher at a church (35), Park Hye-yeong, a volunteer in Afghanistan (34), Seo Myeong-hwa, a nurse (29), Lee Seong-eun, a kindergarten teacher (24), Lee Yeong-gyeong, a college student (22), and two male hostages, including Song Byeong-woo, who works at a financial consulting company (33), and Seo Gyeong-seok, a hairdresser (27).

Haji Zahir, an Afghanistan tribal leader who mediated the procedure of releasing the captives, said in a telephone interview with the Afghanistan Islamic Press (AIP), “The remaining seven captives will be freed today as well and will be handed over to tribal seniors.”

Zahir said, “Contrary to the expectations that the process will take several days for all the hostages to be freed, the Taliban insurgents freed more hostages than we expected on August 29. The rest of the captives will be released soon.”

Presidential spokesman Cheon Ho-seon confirmed, “Although we cannot assure the exact time of the release, the remaining seven hostages will be released sometime today.”

Spokesman Cheon stated the 19 captives are likely to arrive at Incheon International Airport as early as this weekend. When the remaining seven captives are freed, the 19 captives reportedly will be transported to Dubai from Kabul, and arrive in Korea.

Meanwhile, as for the indemnity issue, spokesman Cheon said, “The related captives should take responsibility for it. However, this is a question after the captives return home.” and indicated that the government will request compensation for airfare, accommodation and medical treatment expenses of the captives.

Regarding critics of the government’s action during the talks over releasing the captives, spokesman Cheon also said, “Regarding the direct negotiation with the Taliban insurgents, it might raise some questions of having damaged the nation’s dignity; however, we believe we remained fairly true to out principles.”

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