SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- South Korea's government may seek compensation for expenses incurred in trying to win the release of hostages seized in Afghanistan after ignoring official warnings not to go there, an official said Thursday.

The Foreign Ministry has already asked a local church, which sent the 23 volunteer workers to Afghanistan, to repay airfare and medical fees spent on transporting and treating two released hostages and also airlifting the bodies of two killed hostages back to South Korea, said Kwon Hyuk-soo, a church official.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported the government is conducting a legal review over whether to seek reimbursement for other expenses, such as travel expenses for government officials involved in the negotiations with the Taliban. The report cited an unidentified government official.

Presidential spokesman Cheon Ho-seon told reporters Thursday "it's too early to talk about it ... It is an issue that we can think about after the hostages are back safely."

"If there are things that they should be responsible for, it's natural that they should take the responsibility, but we haven't finalized (our position) on the issue," he said.

The 23 volunteer workers from the Presbyterian Saemmul Community Church were kidnapped by the Taliban on July 19 while traveling on a bus from Kabul to the southern city of Kandahar.

The insurgent group killed two male captives late last month, as their demand for the release of imprisoned Taliban fighters was not met. The group later freed two female hostages.

The Taliban released 12 of the 19 remaining captives Wednesday, and were expected to free the remainder later Thursday.

Kwon, the church official, said the church would accept the government's compensation request so far, and would also pay to bring home the 19 people remaining in Afghanistan. He said the government has not asked to be reimbursed for other expenses.

If the government decides to seek compensation for other expenses, it would be the first time that South Korea has done so -- reflecting public criticism that the hostages and the church were rash in pushing ahead with their trip despite a government warning.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry had earlier cautioned citizens to refrain from traveling to Afghanistan, and has since banned all South Koreans from traveling there.

"They should pay all expenses incurred, let alone their own medical fees and airfare," said Yang Soo-woung, 36, an office worker in Seoul. "I really don't understand why they went there."