Korean Visitors to China Kidnapped?

The police are investigating reports that members of a religious organization visiting China have being have been kidnapped by unknown assailants.

The Mapo police in Seoul revealed on April 4, “We received a report on April 3 stating that 16 people including Taekwondo coach Kim (28, female) were locked up on March 29 in the city of Dalian.”

According to the police, Kim called her mother Jeong (52) on April 3 at around 7:25 p.m. and said, “The whole group has been held hostage. Help us come home.”

They reportedly left Incheon International Airport at 8:00 p.m. on March 28 for the purpose of promoting Taekwondo and missionary work, and arrived a day later at Dalian on the morning of March 29 but were abducted by unidentified people.

To her mother Jeong, Kim said, “I’ve escaped to Xiaonyang with Jang (27, female) and will take the plane home arriving on the morning of April 4,” but never showed up.

The police said that the women argued with two unidentified men at Xiaonyang Airport before being dragged off to be interrogated by the public commissioners.

The police have reported this incident to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and are on the lookout for the other 14 members.

The religious organization responded, “We believe the group had differences of opinion. We don’t think they’ve been kidnapped and imprisoned.”

peacechaos@donga.com