By Jack Kim (Reuters)
Updated: 2007-09-02 09:36

SEOUL - Nineteen South Korean Christian volunteers held hostage by the Taliban in Afghanistan for six weeks returned home on Sunday, thanking their government for winning their release.

Released South Korean hostages arrive at Incheon Airport in Incheon, west of Seoul, September 2, 2007. Nineteen South Korean Christian volunteers held hostage by the Taliban in Afghanistan for six weeks returned home on Sunday, thanking their government for winning their release.[Reuters]

A senior leader of the insurgents told Reuters Seoul had paid $20 million for their release. The South Korean government denies paying any ransom but has come under criticism for striking a deal through direct negotiations with the Taliban.

"We went to spread God's love and carry out his wishes. We regret all the trouble we gave to the people of South Korea and the government and we are grateful for being allowed to return to our families," freed hostage Lyu Kyung-sik said after arriving.

The hostages, looking sombre and some fighting back tears, stood behind Lyu as he made a brief statement at Incheon airport outside Seoul. He stood between framed pictures of two other hostages shot dead by the Taliban.

"Had it not been for you and your life-risking rescue operation, our Afghan missionary team would have lost our lives," said Lyu, still wearing a beard grown during his captivity.

The hostages were quickly shuttled out of the airport and taken to a hospital near Seoul for medical checks and to be reunited with relatives.

When asked if a ransom had been paid, Kim Man-bok, the head of South Korea's spy agency, said at the airport: "There was none at all."

The South Korean government said it only agreed to pull out a small contingent of military engineers and medical staff and end South Korean missionary work in Afghanistan in return for the release of the hostages.

It had already planned to pull all its non-combat troops out before the hostage ordeal.

Taliban insurgents kidnapped 23 South Koreans in mid-July. They killed two male hostages as initial negotiations stumbled and last month released two women captives.

The hostages, mostly women, had flown from Dubai where they had stopped on their way home from Afghanistan.

Many South Koreans said they have been eagerly awaiting the hostages' return. But many see them as largely to blame for the ordeal by ignoring numerous government warnings and making an ill-advised mission to an obvious danger spot.

The hostages have spoken of living in constant fear for their lives and were split up into small groups and shuttled around the Afghan countryside to avoid detection.