One Korean National Kidnapped by Pirates off Gabon Freed After 37 Days... Ministry of Foreign Affairs "Good Health Condition"

Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "Planning to Return Home as Soon as Flights Are Arranged"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 9th that one of our nationals (male in his 50s), who was kidnapped by pirates off the coast of Gabon, Africa on May 3rd, was safely released on the evening of the 8th local time in southern Nigeria, marking the 37th day since the abduction.

The hijacked vessel, carrying a total of six people including one Korean national, five Senegalese and Indonesian crew members, was registered under Senegalese flag owned by a French shipowner and was seized by pirates off the coast of Gabon on the 3rd of last month.

The released Korean national is generally in good health and is being protected at a safe location arranged by the Embassy of Nigeria. According to his wishes, he is scheduled to return to Korea as soon as a flight is arranged.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "The government has been regularly sharing the situation with the family of the abducted Korean national and arranged for the individual to communicate with his family immediately after release," adding, "We will continue to provide all necessary consular assistance until the national returns home."

The five fellow crew members of Senegalese and Indonesian nationality were also released together. The Korean Embassy safely handed them over to the Senegalese and Indonesian embassies in Nigeria.

Following the recognition of the abduction incident, the government established a Protection Headquarters for Overseas Nationals and an on-site task force at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters and local missions (Embassy in Gabon, Embassy in Nigeria, Embassy in France), operating a 24-hour response system.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained, "While strictly adhering to the principle of prioritizing the safety of our nationals and the principle of no direct negotiations with the kidnappers, we maintained close cooperation among the headquarters, missions, and related ministries, and kept close communication with the shipping company negotiating the release with the kidnappers," adding, "We have been sharing information and consulting regularly with the governments of Gabon, Nigeria, France, and other countries involved in this abduction incident."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.