A South Korean man in his 40s, identified as Mr. A, who was abducted in Manila, Philippines, has been safely released.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today, Mr. A is in good health following his release.

Mr. A, a businessman, was kidnapped in Manila on the 16th of local time by unidentified men presumed to be locals.

The South Korean Embassy in the Philippines received reports of the incident on the 17th, established an on-site headquarters headed by the ambassador, and mounted a joint response with the Philippine National Police, the Korean Desk (South Korean police officers dispatched locally), and the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "Putting the safety of our citizens as our top priority, we closely cooperated with the Philippine police and other authorities to secure his prompt release," adding, "Local investigations are currently underway regarding further details."

Abductions of South Koreans in the Philippines occurred 5 times in 2023, 1 time in 2024, and 3 times in 2025, making this the first such incident this year.

(Photo: Yonhap News)