Response
Public gatherings were held in Korea during the capture to pray for the safety of the hostages. Muslims residing in Korea also expressed their grief regarding the incident and avow that the acts of the Taliban are against the principles of Islam. Many Koreans nevertheless held numerous protests and demonstrations outside the Seoul Central Mosque.
On the other hand, many 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 has plans to kidnap Koreans in order to free imprisoned militants. Protestant Churches in general also come under intense criticism in South Korean society.
Among these criticising the deal from the government as a dangerous precedent was the bishop of Taejon and chairman of Caritas Corea Lazarus You Heung-sik.
The execution of the two hostages also provoked outrage in much of the rest of the world.
Read more about this topic: Korean Missionaries
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