The 24-hour deadline set by armed captors passed early Tuesday morning, but the fate of a South Korean hostage is not known.

The Arabic satellite TV station, Al Jazeera, says no new information has emerged on the fate of Kim Sun-il as of early Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, a number of key South Korean figures appeared on Al Jazeera Monday and appealed for Kim's safe release.

Strongly calling for the release of Kim, South Korea's Ambassador to Qatar, Chung Mun-su, stressed that the primary mission of the Seohee and Jaema units, comprised of military medics and engineers currently stationed in Nasiriyah, is to assist peaceful reconstruction efforts of postwar Iraq.

Al Jazeera also aired a three-minute program produced by South Korea's KTV channel on the Seohee and Jaema units, underlining the nature of their peaceful reconstruction operations in Iraq.

Representatives Song Young-kil and Yoon Ho-joong of the ruling Uri Party also pleaded for Kim's release in a pre-recorded appearance on the satellite network. Song said Seoul is planning to send additional troops to Iraq for peaceful purposes, adding that, in the event Kim is harmed, it could hamper the friendly relations between South Korea and Iraq.

Meanwhile, Kim's family members spent a sleepless night praying for his release and safe return, saying they are hopeful for good news.

Kim, an Arabic speaker and evangelical Christian, was seized last Thursday in Fallujah, west of Baghdad. He had been working in Iraq for a year as a translator for a Korean firm supplying goods to the U.S. military.