SEOUL, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Nineteen South Koreans freed by Afghan Taliban militants last week arrived at Incheon International Airport early Sunday.

    The 19 South Koreans, who were kidnapped by Taliban militants on July 19 and released in several groups last week, arrived at the airport at about 6:35 a.m. local time (2135 GMT Saturday).

    They will be admitted to a private hospital in Anyang, south of Seoul, for a medical check-up after returning to their homeland.

    Two female hostages, who were kidnapped together with a total of 23 South Koreans by Taliban and were released on Aug. 13, will move to the Anyang hospital to reunited with the 19 South Koreans, local media reported.

    The 19 South Koreans had a one-night stopover in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, after leaving Kabul, local media said.

    The Taliban militants kidnapped a total of 23 South Koreans on July 19 in Afghanistan. The kidnappers killed two male hostages and freed two others by mid-August. The remaining 19 hostages were released Wednesday and Thursday after direct negotiations between the South Korean government and the Taliban.

Five released South Korean hostages walk in the city of Ghazni August 29, 2007. Taliban insurgents freed eight South Korean hostages in two separate batches on Wednesday, the first of 19 Christian volunteers the Taliban agreed to release.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Photo Gallery>>>