Ministry of Foreign Affairs [Yonhap]
Ministry of Foreign Affairs [Yonhap]

All 24 South Koreans arrested in Nepal for taking part in a religious program while on tourist visas have been released.

According to South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other sources, all 24 South Koreans detained by local police were freed by Wednesday (local time).

The South Korean Embassy in Kathmandu asked Nepal's immigration authorities to release some of the detainees early, citing health concerns. Five were released Monday as a priority, with the rest freed in stages by Wednesday. They were expected to return to South Korea that day.

According to Nepali online outlet Ratopati and other media, the group entered Nepal on tourist visas and participated in a religious training program at New Covenant College, a Christian educational institution in the Morang district of Koshi Province in the country's east.

Local authorities received information that religious education and proselytizing activities were taking place in the area and had been monitoring the situation.

Foreign nationals who enter Nepal on tourist visas are prohibited from participating in religious education or proselytizing activities.

Nepal is also a predominantly Hindu country, with more than 80 percent of its population identifying as Hindu. Christians make up about 2 percent of the total population. While Article 26 of Nepal's constitution guarantees freedom of religion, it prohibits acts such as converting others to a different faith.

South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had been in close contact with Nepali authorities through the embassy since learning of the incident and had provided the necessary consular assistance to the South Koreans involved.

The ministry added that it could not disclose further details out of respect for the individuals' personal privacy.


bbo@heraldcorp.com