Four South Korean sailors who were recently released by Somali pirates after more than 19 months of captivity returned home Wednesday.

The four sailors of the MT Gemini, a taker operated by Singapore-based Glory Ship Management, arrived at Incheon International Airport early Wednesday from Kenya.

They were freed last Saturday after an agreement between the ship's operator and the pirates had been reached, according to South Korea's Foreign Ministry.

The ministry had assisted in ransom talks between the two but maintained a policy of not directly engaging with the pirates, according to Yonhap news agency, citing unidentified Foreign Ministry officials. After their arrival, the sailors thanked the government and the South Korean people. "We are grateful for people's concern about our safety and also thank the government for having made utmost efforts for our release," Park Han-yeol, captain of the MT Gemini, told reporters at the airport.

The four were among 25 crew members of the palm oil tanker that was hijacked on April 30, 2011. The pirates released the vessel and 21 non-South Korean members seven months later but kept the four South Koreans captive.