Manila - Two South Korean men were arrested by police for kidnapping and killing a compatriot in the Philippines, a police report said Wednesday.

The two suspects, identified as Tae Ku Ha and Yong Hoon Lee, were arrested Tuesday while receiving a payoff from the victim's brother at a hotel in Ermita district in Manila, the report said.

The two South Korean suspects, together with two Filipino accomplices, kidnapped Sang Kyung Chang, another South Korean man, on May 24 at the vicinity of Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

During police interrogation, Ha admitted to the kidnapping but blamed one of their Filipino accomplices for stabbing to death the victim during an argument inside the getaway vehicle.

Ha, who is among the most-wanted fugitives in South Korea, provided police with information that led them to a funeral parlour in Antipolo City, 35 kilometres east of Manila, where the victim's body was found.

Chang's brother reported the kidnapping to the police on May 29 when the kidnappers demanded 2 million pesos (42,462 dollars) in exchange for his release.(dpa)