The South Korean Embassy in Baghdad says the Korean man now being held by armed insurgents in Iraq was taken hostage on Thursday.

The Embassy quoted president of Gana Trading Company, Kim Cheon-ho, as saying that Kim Sun-il was taken hostage on June 17th during a business trip in Fallujah, about 200 kilometers from Baghdad. The embassy said Kim was traveling to Fallujah aboard a truck with an Iraqi co-worker from a U.S. military camp in Ribgee.

Reports say the trading firm initially attempted to negotiate the release of the hostage on its own, instead of immediately reporting the incident to the South Korean Embassy. The head of the company reportedly traveled to Mosul as a part of such efforts.

The company president was also quoted as saying that, in addition to the South Korean hostage, the local insurgent group, Monachism & Jihad, is currently holding hostage around ten foreigners, including a German reporter.

The Foreign Ministry said about 20 South Korean companies are currently involved in various business projects in the war-torn country.