Moyale (KAAB TV) – Nine months after two South Korean nationals were abducted in Moyale, a town in Kenya’s Marsabit region, a newly released video confirms that the captives are alive but enduring harsh conditions in Somalia.
The video, shared on social media on Monday, April 28, features philanthropist David Ian Lee and his mother-in-law, Hiwi Sokk Cheon. The two were kidnapped on August 12, 2024, by gunmen affiliated with the al-Shabaab militant group from their home in Odda village, near the Kenya-Ethiopia border.
In the three-minute footage, Lee pleads with the South Korean government to urgently intervene and secure their release.
“For many days, we have been living in fear and uncertainty. We are in a dangerous situation. We are innocent people,” said Lee, who appeared visibly distressed. Beside him sat Cheon, silent and visibly shaken.
Lee appealed directly to South Korean authorities, urging them to participate in repatriation efforts so they can return home safely.
Kenyan security officials believe the video was released by al-Shabaab to apply pressure on the South Korean government to engage in negotiations.
The abduction triggered a multi-agency investigation in 2024, resulting in the arrest of eight suspects, including six Ethiopian nationals. All suspects remain in custody as investigations continue.
As of now, the South Korean Embassy in Nairobi has not issued an official statement in response to the video’s release.