South Korean citizens are in a state of shock and rage following news that a South Korean hostage in Iraq, Kim Sun-il, was killed by a group of Iraqi militants.

People across the nation, who had been praying for Kim's safe return and had been glued to their TVs for the latest updates on the hostage crisis, were dumbfounded when they learned of Kim's beheading.

Citizens are praying for the safety of South Koreans residing in Iraq and have called on the government to swiftly draw up measures to deal with the incident.