KEY POINTS:
The South Korean hostage killed in Afghanistan, Bae Hyung Kyu, was a Christian pastor who was the leader of the group of 22 other church volunteers kidnapped by Taleban insurgents.
Bae's bullet-riddled body was found yesterday, the day South Korean media said he would have turned 42. Bae, a married man with a 9-year-old daughter, was from a devout Christian family from the island province of Jeju. He went to theology school and became a pastor about six years ago.
Bae was a founding member of the Saemmul Church south of Seoul, which sent the volunteers to Afghanistan. He led services for younger members of its congregation. "He was close to many members of the church, because he was always generous enough to help with the prayers of each of the 300 members of the youth division," an acquaintance said.
- REUTERS
