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Five Korean sailors who were kidnapped by gunmen off the coast of Benin, West Africa a month ago, were released safely this morning (25th). We interviewed them alone.

Reporter Hye-young Kim reported how the situation was at the time and health was good now.

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Five Korean sailors and one Ghanaian of the Panopy Frontier, who were taken offshore in Benin, West Africa on the 25th of last month, were released today at 5:50 am.

He was released from the Nigerian Delta region, a bordering country in Benin, and is currently in a safe place under the protection of the Nigerian Embassy.

When released, Sailor A said in an exclusive interview with SBS, it was still a dream.

[Mr./A free Korean sailor: I still don't know if it's a dream or alive. The whole process is now... I'm really confused how it even came out until the last moment... .]

A month ago, when I was in captivity, I looked back at the moment when I found a pirate boat too late.

[Mr./A free Korean sailor: We found it at 2.5 miles, and they were already on board within 10 minutes of that time. There was no time to evacuate... . (Did you not harm the body?) I did it only in words, and I shot some horror shots, and I was so embarrassed because I had never experienced such a process... .]

Sailor A said he was grateful to the government for supporting the side and the shipping company that negotiated with the pirates throughout the interview.

[Mr. A / Korean crew released: Thank you so much for allowing me to come out quickly. You care so much that you came out like this, but I can't forget it forever.]

Five people, including Mr. Sailor A, have mild malaria symptoms, but are currently taking the medicine and getting calm.

We are considering returning to Korea early next month, or going back to Korea by the end of next month after going to Ghana, where there are shippers.

(Video editing: Jinhoon Park, CG: Seohyung Seo)