[GLOBAL ECONOMIC TIMES]  A Korean man in his 60s was kidnapped by a gunman in Peru, Central and South America, and rescued by local police a day later.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, local media, and Yonhap News on the 26th (local time), Peruvian police rescued Mr. A, a Korean businessman in his late 60s who had been kidnapped.

Mr. A was kidnapped by a local criminal organization after breaking up with an acquaintance in Lima, the capital of Peru, in the early morning of the 24th, but returned safely to his family one day later, on the 25th. Mr. A's health was confirmed to be good. It is reported that there were three kidnappers, and they even engaged in a shootout with local police.

At the time of the kidnapping, an employee of Mr. A's company contacted Mr. A on his cell phone, and an unidentified person answered the phone. The victim's family, believing there were circumstances of kidnapping, reported it to the local Korean embassy and police.

The Embassy in Peru activated a task force immediately after receiving the kidnapping report. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters also immediately activated the Overseas Citizens Protection Countermeasure Headquarters and held meetings to discuss safety measures.

Meanwhile, Peru had relatively stable security in Central and South America, but the crime rate increased significantly due to the worsening economy and the influx of immigrants after COVID-19.