Police Consider Firearm Release Ban
to Preempt Potential Terror Threats
On March 11, the police announced that they would restrict drone flights around the Constitutional Court before and after the verdict on the impeachment of President Yoon Seokyeol.
On the 11th, supporters of President Yoon Seokyeol held an anti-impeachment rally in front of the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
The National Police Agency stated in a press release that day, "We have requested the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to designate an area within a 1-nautical-mile (1,854 meters) radius centered on the Constitutional Court as a 'temporary no-fly zone' from midnight on March 13 to March 31." The agency explained that this measure is intended to prepare for various risks posed by drones before and after the impeachment verdict.
If illegal drone flights are detected, the police plan to intercept the drones on site using signal jammers and handle the operators in accordance with relevant laws.
The police are also considering issuing guidelines to all regional police agencies nationwide to prohibit the release of firearms used for controlling harmful wildlife after the impeachment verdict date is set. This is part of a plan to preemptively block the possibility of terrorist acts by groups dissatisfied with the Constitutional Court's decision.
Under current law, if individuals or organizations receive permission from the local police station and local government to own firearms or capture harmful wildlife, the firearms must be stored at the police station. Even outside the hunting season (November to February of the following year), firearms may be taken out for the purpose of driving away wild boars or birds that damage crops.
As of last year, there were 106,678 firearms owned by individuals and organizations with police permission, of which about 50,000 were stored at police stations.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency is also considering tracking the real-time locations of firearm owners, such as those with hunting shotguns and air rifles, on the day of the verdict using the GPS on their mobile phones.
Previously, during the impeachment verdict of former President Park Geunhye in 2017, the police also imposed a complete ban on the release of firearms used for controlling harmful wildlife.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
