M.E. missionary work faces restrictions

The government is seeking to selectively restrict Korean Christians` missionary activities in the Middle East out of safety concerns, officials said yesterday.

An increasing number of Korean Christians have recently been arrested and expelled by Islamic countries where missionary work is outlawed. Their work is exposing themselves and other Koreans to threats of terrorism.

Officials from justice, foreign affairs, intelligence and other bodies met earlier this month to discuss the issue and will propose countermeasures shortly, they said.



Under the current law, the government can ban overseas travel for those who are under criminal investigation, as well as anyone with the potential to tarnish the country`s interests, public safety and economic order.

The government can also refuse the issuance and renewal of passports for up to three years for those who have sullied the nation`s reputation through illegal activities abroad.

The government plans to enforce such regulations more strictly. It is also considering revising the passport law to restrict Christians` travel to countries from where they had been deported for religious reasons.

Some churches and civic groups are expected to protest the measures. They have claimed such restrictions could violate the freedom of travel and religious liberties.

The officials said they will prepare complementary regulations to mitigate any such objections.

For the past two months, more than 80 Korean church workers have been expelled from Iran, Jordan, Yemen and other Middle Eastern countries.

Kidnappings and terrorist attacks against Koreans have increased in recent years, possibly due to the nation`s active support of the U.S.-led campaign against terrorism.

In 2007, Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan kidnapped 23 Korean Christian missionaries, two of whom were killed.

Four Korean tourists were killed by a blast in Yemen in March. In June, a female volunteer worker was abducted and killed by terrorists in the nation.

Jordan recently informed Seoul that it had obtained intelligence about possible terror attacks against Korean missionaries.

(jjhwang@heraldm.com)



By Hwang Jang-jin