7 freed freighter crew members to return home Sat.

Seven Korean crewmen of the cargo ship Samho Jewelry who were freed from Somali pirates Friday will arrive at the Omani port of Muscat Thursday and could return home to Korea around Saturday.

Maj. Gen. Lee Jong-myeong, chief of the civilian and military psychological welfare department of the Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Sunday, “Escorted by the destroyer Choi Young, the Samho Jewelry is moving to the port of Muscat and will arrive there around Thursday.”

A military source said, “The Cheonghae Unit will hand over Samho Jewelry crewmen and pirates who were detained alive as well as the bodies of slain pirates to Seoul’s contingency response team,” adding, “After arriving in Muscat, the Choi Young will stay at the port for about three days to receive military supplies before returning to its operations site in the Gulf of Aden early next month.”

“The three Korean special forces members injured in the initial rescue operation are undergoing treatment in Muscat, and Samho Jewelry Capt. Seok Hae-kyun is hospitalized in Salalah, Oman.”

A Korean Foreign Ministry source said, “Upon their arrival in Muscat, the seven South Korean crewmen excluding Capt. Seok will undergo medical checkups before being repatriated to Seoul by flight,” adding, “We’re preparing to have them arrive in Korea Saturday.”

The crew members reportedly have no major health problems.

Considering it proper to discipline the five pirates as criminals for attacking Koreans under Korean law, Seoul is said to be considering bringing them to Korea for prosecution.

Soldiers and civilians who contributed to the successful rescue will also be honored. Shin Gyeong-su, head of the international policy team at the Defense Ministry, said, “We’re considering a plan to honor with awards not only soldiers who participated in the operation but also others involved including the Samho Jewelry captain."

Those to be honored also include officials of the U.S. and Omani navies, the chief of the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, and the Korean ambassador to Oman.

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