In 2005, Norman Kember (retired professor of biophysics, peace worker) and three other peace workers were kidnapped in Iraq by a previously unknown group called “Swords of Righteousness Brigade.” In 1976, one of the hardest rescue missions ever attempted called “Operation Entebbe” occurred. It was a rescue mission performed by Sayeret Matkal (the Israeli elite Special Forces) to free hostages. It was held on Air France Flight 139 at Entebbe Airport in Uganda. South Korea is no exception to kidnapping. Last month, a missionary group from Korea did not listen to the Korean government and left to do missionary work. The group was kidnapped by the Taliban. Some of the missionary workers were killed because of a failure to compromise.
In this world, there is an invisible power that controls lots of things and leading countries have those powers. Leading countries which have maintained that this world is globalized did not help actively even though the Korean government asked for help to rescue the hostages. We should think about the contradictory behavior of these powerful countries that say it is a globalized world.
Leading countries have the power to lead and control this world. Sometimes stronger countries pressure weak countries for economic reasons. Globalization can be progressed properly when all the countries around the world are equal. However, stronger countries take advantage of weaker countries for the benefits that they need. Therefore, international inequality occurs.
For example, there are lots of cheap and good quality cotton plants in a part of Asia and Africa, but leading countries give a subsidy to national industry in order to protect their industry. It appears there are various fields of contradictions of a globalizing world.
Insung Lee, Professor
Dept. of International Relations at Yonsei University, Wonju Campus
Dean of Academic and Faculty Affairs
CAH: Why is there kidnapping in a world of globalization?
Pro: We use a term “global village”; it gives a message and meaning of a united world image. Technically speaking, globalization, global village do not harmonize with a united world that is without reserve.
Globalization has an ideal meaning but relationships between a human society means linking and connecting among all those all over the world. That is, globalization means linking and connection. However, connection does not mean harmonization between countries.
We will watch the progress of globalization because different countries have different customs and ideals. We don’t know if it will all end in unity or disruption, or whether the present state of globalization will turn out to have contradictions or not. Like this, nobody knows the outcome of it. For example, even though Europe appears united through the EU, and the Middle East is undecided about joining any kind of globalization. Like this, nobody knows the outcome of it. Consequently, a hostage accident can occur, when one regards the confusion that many countries have with globalization.
CAH: What do you think about behaviors of the leading countries?
Pro: Considering that it takes the lead in globalizing world, I understand that we have a big expectation about leading country’s role in the world. However, these days, in Taliban hostage case, leading countries stick to their strict position to refuse to negotiate with terrorists, because their object of kidnapping is an exchange between Taliban prisoners and hostages. If government releases Taliban prisoners, some day another kidnapping incident will occur again. 
CAH: How can we prevent kidnapping?
Pro: We take the first step of globalization development from being just a state that exists to a state that participates and follows all the rules of globalization even well into the future. Each country should provide international treatment and be interested in the world situation. First, doers of international society are diverse. They are international investors, NGO personnel as well as people of leading countries which we should contend with them. Second, in making a rule, there are many governance systems in this world. There are local self-governments, central governments, and they are going to make a global village government. When the Cold War occurred, each country decided their role and rules, but nowadays these roles and rules are changing. Therefore, we should understand the other party and the other side area from various points of view including the Taliban hostage accident. That is the very thing that we should have; the spirit of tolerance, a wide international knowledge and information.
We can think that globalization means a lot. However, in this case, we can not think about leading country’s behavior positively. Truly, where is the area that we can call this situation as a global village? Leading countries maintain a globalization for their benefit. All of us have to think about what is the true meaning of globalization.