A South Korean woman abducted a month ago in the Philippines was found dead earlier this week, the Foreign Ministry here said Wednesday.

The woman in her mid-20s, whose identity was withheld, had been missing in the Philippines since early March. She was kidnapped in the Manila area on March 3 while on her way to meet with her friend, according to a foreign ministry official.

“Her body was found in the hiding place of the abductors Tuesday night despite our utmost efforts to win her safe release,” the official said. The hiding place was located about an hour car ride north of the capital.

The abduction became known when one of the abductors called the friend she was to meet and demanded a hefty ransom, according to the official.

They made several more ransom demands before the body was found, he said.

The Philippine police arrested one of the abductors Tuesday night and is working to catch the other accomplices, the official said.

“At least three or more abductors seem to have been involved in the kidnapping and murder,” he said.

The victim was a student at a university in Manila and had been studying in the country for many years.

Concerns about the safety of South Korean residents and travelers have sparked recently due to a flurry of recent South Korean deaths in the Philippines, mostly driven by profit motives.

The Philippines is home to about 80,000 South Korean residents, including 30,000 students. (Yonhap)