The South Korean government is working on a plan to transport the wounded captain of a hijacked South Korean cargo ship which the South Korean Navy rescued from Somali pirates.

Captain Seok Hae-gyun was shot in the stomach by one of the captured pirates.
He also sustained broken bones during Friday's rescue operation of the Samho Jewelry by the Navy's commandos.

Seok was conscious but in critical condition when he first entered a hospital in Salalah, Oman, and has since underwent a five hour operation.

A South Korean government official told reporters that a team of medical experts departed for Oman on Tuesday and will arrive at the hospital Wednesday afternoon.

He added that they would decide whether transportation of the captain to South Korea would be possible depending on his physical condition.

The captain’s family will accompany the medical team to Oman.

The military and shipping officials say the 57-year-old captain played a large role in the rescue.