Be it from Chinese pressure or the pay off from the Hyundai Chairwoman, but the South Korean being held hostage by North Korea has been released:

A South Korean worker detained in North Korea for 136 days was released Thursday following a visit to the secretive state by Hyun Jung-eun, chairwoman of Hyundai Group.

The government hailed his return and promised to prevent any similar incident from recurring.

“I am glad to come back. I deeply appreciate the government, Hyundai Asan and the people for making efforts and showing concern,” Yu Seong-jin said upon his arrival at the Dorasan Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Office near the inter-Korean border.

Yu, looking gaunt in black pants and beige-colored shirt and cap, did not elaborate on his captivity, shaking off a reporters’ grip as he got into a black van and left.

He was taken to a hospital in Seoul for a medical checkup before being questioned about the circumstances of his detention, according to a Unification Ministry official.

The 44-year-old engineer working in the Gaeseong Industrial Complex for Hyundai Asan was detained on March 30 for allegedly making derogatory comments on the North Korean regime and attempting to entice a woman to defect to the South.

North Korea had refused to allow South Korean officials and attorneys to see him during his confinement, saying he was doing fine.

Ministry spokesman Chung Hae-sung told reporters that North Korea allowed the employee to leave by “exiling” him.

Chung said, “It is a relief that Yu has been released … but this kind of incident should not happen again.”

The spokesman remained silent over the details on Yu’s detention, saying an investigation was now underway.   [Korea Times]