[Editorial] Ante Up Diplomatic Efforts for Kidnapped Koreans

Missionaries from a Presbyterian church in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province, were kidnapped by Taliban militants in Afghanistan yesterday. “We are detaining 18 Koreans,” the spokesman of the Taliban rebels stated. “They are now being investigated in a safe environment. We’ll announce our demands and stance later.”

Almost 20 Koreans were abducted in the Islamic region, though the kidnap and murder of Korean hostage Kim Sun-iI by Islamic militants in Iraq in June is still vivid in our minds.

The government must concentrate its diplomatic efforts and conduct negotiations as quickly as possible to make sure the kidnapped Koreans can be released without any harm. It must also seek help from the Afghanistan government and allies, such as the U.S., and consult with countries that have dealt with hostage negotiations with Islamic extremist groups.

Afghanistan is an extremely volatile region due to the presence of Taliban militants, which demand the withdrawal of international peacekeeping forces. They may make radical demands or take extreme actions, given that Korea has dispatched its forces in both Afghanistan and Iraq. There have already been several kidnappings of foreign nationals in Afghanistan.

The National Intelligence Service informed related bodies and the public about Taliban insurgents’ alleged plans to abduct Koreans in February. However, the government classified Afghanistan as a “travel restricted region,” a lower level compared to that of “travel ban countries,” such as Iraq and Somalia. Thus, the government is responsible for failing to prevent its citizens from entering the hazardous region.

However, we must not blame everything on the government. People who travel to disputed regions must also remain vigilant about their own safety. The Taliban is a radical group that does not respect any other religions. For instance, they are the ones who have destroyed the world’s largest Buddha statue. Non-Muslims must take extra caution when entering an Islamic country.

Koreans have long been the target of international terrorist groups. An increased number of Korean troops have been dispatched overseas and a greater number of corporations and civilians have also been visiting foreign countries to travel, study or engage in mission work. Korean workers have frequently been kidnapped by armed groups that have demanded a ransom, and staff sergeant Yoon Sung-ho was also killed by a bomb attack in February of this year. The government must draw up and execute more thorough safety measures for its citizens staying abroad.