The South Korean government has summoned Israel's chargé d'affaires in Seoul to demand a thorough investigation into the Israeli military's seizure of an aid ship bound for Gaza, during which two Korean activists were detained.
"The government has expressed strong regret over Israel's detention of two of our citizens through the seizure of an aid ship bound for Gaza," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on the 25th. "We are taking seriously the testimony from our citizens that Israeli soldiers engaged in beatings during the ship's seizure and the arrest of our nationals."
The ministry summoned Israel's chargé d'affaires on the 23rd to raise the issue and convey its grave concerns. The meeting was attended by Yoo Byung-seok, Director General for Overseas Koreans and Consular Affairs, and Barak Shine, Israel's chargé d'affaires in Seoul.
"We emphasized that if Israel's inhumane conduct is confirmed to be true, appropriate measures, including the punishment of those responsible, must follow," the ministry said. "We will respond to this matter in a principled and responsible manner while continuing diplomatic communication with related countries."
Kim A-hyun, an activist who goes by the name Haecho and who had boarded the Gaza-bound aid ship before being seized by Israeli forces, recently claimed upon returning home that "I was struck in the face several times (by Israeli soldiers), and I actually cannot hear well in my left ear."
