19 South Koreans return home after release from Taliban captivity
{{date|September 2, 2007}}
{{South Korea}}
[[Image:Taliban-herat-2001.jpg|left|thumb|Taliban riding in a truck in Herat, Afghanistan.]]Nineteen [[South Korean]] Christians are released from {{w|Insurgency|insurgents}} after being held captive for six weeks. The 19 South Koreans return to a nation that is glad the {{w|hostage}} situation has been resolved and is over. However, they also face a country that is angry with their decision to travel to [[Afghanistan]] despite the Afghan government advising them not to.

{{Cquote2|We owe a big debt to the nation and people, said Yoo Kyung Shik, the oldest of the freed hostages.}}

One South Korean man was reportedly stopped by the [[w:Police|police]] when he attempted to hurl eggs at the freed [[Christian|Christians]]. The South Korean people are demanding to know who is to blame for the crisis and damaging South Korea's reputation. 

{{Cquote2|I expect cannonballs of criticism flying at churches for causing such a disturbance, for squandering national energy and money... This is a good opportunity for Christian-bashing in a society that has been frowning upon churches, said Reverend Kim Myung Hyuk}}

The South Korean government promised to send no more Christian {{w|Missionary|missionaries}} into the country.

== Related News ==
* {{wikinews|title=Afghan translator reported killed by Taliban captors|date=April 8, 2007}}
* {{wikinews|title=Reports: Taliban leader Mullah Dadullah killed in Afghanistan|date=May 13, 2007}}
* {{wikinews|title=Taliban execute one Korean hostage; reports of release denied|date=July 25, 2007}}

{{haveyoursay}}
== Sources ==
{{Wikipedia|2007 South Korean hostage crisis in Afghanistan}}
*{{source|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/09/02/asia/korea.php
|title=19 South Koreans return home after release from Taliban captivity
|author=Choe Sang-Hun
|pub=International Herald Tribune
|date=September 2, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://news.monstersandcritics.com/southasia/news/article_1350876.php/South_Koreans_back_home_after_release_by_Taliban__2nd_Roundup_
|title=South Koreans back home after release by Taliban (2nd Roundup)
|author=
|pub=Monster and Critics
|date=September 2, 2007}}

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[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:South Korea]]
[[Category:Afghanistan]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:Afghan Taliban]]
[[Category:Korean Peninsula]]
[[Category:Christianity]]
Taliban riding in a truck in Herat, Afghanistan.Nineteen South Korean Christians are released from insurgents after being held captive for six weeks. The 19 South Koreans return to a nation that is glad the  situation has been resolved and is over. However, they also face a country that is angry with their decision to travel to Afghanistan despite the Afghan government advising them not to.

One South Korean man was reportedly stopped by the police when he attempted to hurl eggs at the freed Christians. The South Korean people are demanding to know who is to blame for the crisis and damaging South Korea's reputation. 

The South Korean government promised to send no more Christian missionaries into the country.
Asia South Korea Afghanistan Politics and conflicts Crime and law Afghan Taliban Korean Peninsula Christianity