Past hijackings by pirates

* Apr. 4, 2006: Fishing boat “Dongwon,” carrying 25 crewmembers including eight Koreans, is hijacked near Somali territory. The crew is held for 117 days until July 30.
* May 15, 2007: Twenty-four crewmembers of “Mabuno No. 1” and “No. 2,” including four Koreans, are kidnapped on the seas off Somalia. They are released 174 days later on Nov. 4.
* Oct. 28, 2007: Japanese chemical tanker “Golden Nori,” carrying two Korean crewmembers, is hijacked near Somalia. One of the crew manages to escape the same day and the other is freed 45 days later.
* Sept. 10, 2008: Eight Koreans and 14 Burmese of the bulker “Bright Ruby” are taken on the Gulf of Aden. The hostages are freed 37 days later on Oct. 16.
* Nov. 15, 2008: Five Koreans and 18 Filipinos on board cargo vessel “Chemstar Venus” are kidnapped on the Gulf of Aden. They are held hostage for 88 days until Feb. 11, 2009.
* Apr. 4, 2010: Oil tanker Samho Dream with 24 workers, including five Koreans, is hijacks in the middle of the Indian Ocean. The members were released on Nov. 7. The government dispatches the 4,500-ton Chungmugong Yi Sun-shin destroyer to rescue the crewmembers.
* Oct. 9, 2010: Trawler “Geummi305” with two Koreans, two Chinese and 39 Kenyans was hijacked. The negotiation for their release is still under way.
* Jan. 15, 2011: Freighter Samho Jewelry carrying 21 crewmembers is captured in the Arabian Sea. The military authorities dispatch 4,500-ton destroyer Choi Young to the scene Sunday.