Five South Koreans held hostage in Mexico have been released unharmed by their abductors, the foreign ministry in Seoul said Wednesday.

In a statement, director general for consular affairs, Lee Jeong-Gwan said the five were released unharmed at 7:00 pm Tuesday local Mexico time after authorities at Seoul's urging, apparently applied "strong pressure" on the abductors.

He said the South Koreans are now under police protection and would soon be handed over to embassy officials. The kidnappers were demanding a ransom of $30,000, but it was not clear whether the money was paid for the release or if the kidnappers were arrested.

The five, including a woman, were looking for work when they were abducted on July 14 in Reynosa, a city on the Mexico-U.S. border in the state of Tamaulipas.

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