S. Korea Revokes Activist's Passport Over Attempt To Enter Gaza

SEOUL, April 7 (Bernama-Yonhap) -- South Korean authorities have revoked a South Korean activist's passport for attempting to enter the Gaza Strip, currently off-limits to travel, a foreign ministry official said Tuesday, Yonhap News Agency reported.

The passport of Kim Ah-hyun has been invalidated since Saturday, the official said, after she refused to comply with the government order to surrender her passport.

The government had notified her family of potential legal action and penalties she could face if she attempted an unauthorised visit to the Gaza Strip before ordering her to hand over her passport.

Kim has been staying abroad and is reportedly refusing to communicate with South Korean authorities.

The South Korean Embassy in France has notified her of the passport revocation via text and email and has been unable to reach her by phone.

"It has not been confirmed whether she actually boarded a vessel bound for Gaza," the official said. "We are continuing to monitor relevant developments with the possibility of her boarding."

The official said the ministry is also communicating with Israeli authorities to take necessary measures to ensure her life and safety.

Kim previously attempted to enter Gaza aboard a ship with humanitarian activists in October last year. But the vessel was intercepted by Israeli forces, and Kim was detained for two days before being released.

Kim filed for a court injunction to suspend the revocation order, but the request was denied.

-- BERNAMA-YONHAP