138 Cases of Illegal Firearms Seized in South Korea Over 3 Years... 45 Firearm Accidents Also Occurred

Assemblyman Park Wansu "Must Thoroughly Address Import and Distribution"

Park Wansu, member of the People Power Party.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] It has been revealed that the number of illegal firearms detected in South Korea over the past three years has significantly exceeded 100 cases.

According to data submitted by the National Police Agency to Park Wan-soo, a member of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee from the People Power Party, the total number of illegal firearms detected from 2018 to June of this year is 138 cases.

By metropolitan and provincial police agencies, the breakdown is as follows: Seoul Police Agency 60 cases, Busan Police Agency 24 cases, Jeonnam Police Agency 10 cases, Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency 9 cases, Gyeongbuk Police Agency 7 cases, Chungnam Police Agency 6 cases, Ulsan, Gyeonggi Bukbu, Chungbuk, Jeonbuk, and Gyeongnam Police Agencies each 3 cases, Daegu and Gangwon Police Agencies each 2 cases, and Incheon, Sejong, and Jeju Police Agencies each 1 case.

In May, the Busan Police Agency arrested five individuals who purchased firearm parts from a US website, disguised them as camping equipment, imported them into the country, and then manufactured and possessed or sold pistols and rifles. In March, the Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency arrested one person who kept an unauthorized gas gun at home after a family report. According to the current Act on the Safety Control of Firearms, Swords, and Explosives, civilians are prohibited from possessing firearms without official permission except in exceptional cases.

The number of firearm-related accidents during the same period reached 45 cases. Last month in Nowon-gu, Seoul, a shooting athlete was injured when a bullet fired during pistol training hit another athlete passing behind the target. Earlier in July, in Gimcheon, Gyeongbuk, a person was injured after mistakenly shooting a shotgun at someone they thought was a wild boar. During this period, 838 civilian-owned firearms were reported lost.

Assemblyman Park stated, "Since illegal firearms have a high potential to be misused for crimes, related agencies such as the police must thoroughly respond to their import and distribution," and added, "The qualification requirements and education system related to firearm use must also be strengthened."