Two South Korean activists who were detained by Israeli forces while attempting to reach Gaza returned home on May 22.
Kim Ah-hyun (alias Haecho) and Kim Dong-hyun arrived at Incheon Airport around 6:24 a.m. on a flight from Bangkok, Thailand.
Speaking to reporters, Kim Ah-hyun recounted, "We were illegally abducted by Israel during our voyage to Gaza and imprisoned. The Israeli occupying forces were extremely angry, and many people were beaten while we were in custody."
Kim Dong-hyun stated, "What Israel did to us was to hijack our boats in international waters and continuously torture and imprison civilians. We only experienced a fraction of the violence perpetrated by Israel, but it was truly unbearable."
Kim Ah-hyun also shared details about his health, saying, "I was beaten multiple times, and now I have difficulty hearing out of one ear."
Regarding their mission to Gaza, Kim Ah-hyun explained, "Many people are dying not only from bombings but also from starvation. I believed that as long as there are people there, we must attempt to sail again, regardless of the dangers in the Middle East."
When asked about his passport being invalidated, he asserted, "I believe people have the right to live where they want and travel where they wish. Even if the government tries to stop me with legal procedures like invalidating my passport, I have the right to do what I want."
Kim Ah-hyun remarked, "Many consulates are avoiding diplomatic conflicts with Israel due to the dangerous situation in the Middle East. In that context, I think the South Korean government has done what it needed to do."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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