2007 South Korean hostage crisis in Afghanistan

As South Korea was already scheduled to withdraw its 200 troops by the end of the year, the Taliban's initial demand was only that they hold to this plan, but later also sought the release of 23 Taliban militants from prison in exchange for releasing the abducted South Koreans. The Taliban issued and extended several deadlines for the release of the prisoners, after which they threatened to begin killing the hostages. Freedom for the militants was ruled out when it was apparent the South Korean negotiators could not secure the release of Afghan prisoners, as Afghan president Hamid Karzai had previously faced criticism for freeing five rebel prisoners in exchange for an Italian hostage. Face-to-face meetings between the Taliban and South Korea began on 10 August, resulting in the release of two female hostages, Kim Ji-na and Kim Gyeong-ja, on 13 August. However on 18 August, a Taliban spokesman said that the talks had failed and the fate of the hostages was being considered. ==Release==

The freedom of the remaining nineteen hostages (fourteen women and five men) was secured on 28 August with the participation of Indonesia as a neutral country. They were eventually released on the 29 and 30 of August. After the release, a Taliban official announced that South Korea had paid the Taliban more than US$20 million in ransom for the lives of the hostages. However, South Korea stated that they have made a promise with the Taliban that they would not make any statements about the ransom. ==Response==

Public gatherings were held in South Korea during the capture to pray for the safety of the hostages. Muslims residing in South Korea also expressed their grief regarding the incident and stated that the acts of the Taliban were against the principles of Islam. Many South Koreans nevertheless held numerous protests and demonstrations outside the Seoul Central Mosque. On the other hand, many South Koreans were critical of the hostages, as the hostages were conducting Christian missionary service in Islamic Afghanistan despite the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's repeated warnings that Taliban had plans to kidnap South Koreans in order to free imprisoned militants. Among those criticising the deal from the government as setting a dangerous precedent were the bishop of Daejeon and chairman of Korea Caritas Lazarus You Heung-sik. ==List of hostages==