Late Marine officer found dead with gunshot wound was in charge of firearms management: officials

A Marine noncommissioned officer, who held the rank of sergeant first class, was discovered dead from a gunshot wound on August 3, 2023, at a housing unit for Marine Corps officers in Pohang, located approximately 270 kilometers southeast of Seoul. The Marine Corps disclosed that this officer had been responsible for managing firearms and ammunition at an amphibious unit situated on the southeastern coast.

The officer covertly removed one K1 rifle and 10 rounds of live ammunition from the unit without anyone's knowledge for at least three days prior to his demise. He was reported to have taken out two K1 rifles from a weapons depot to swap their gunstocks, but failed to return one of them. It was said that he took the missing rifle home sometime between July 29 and July 31.

The Marine Corps unit in charge appeared oblivious to the missing firearms, prompting inquiries into whether routine armory inspections and firearms management were being carried out correctly.

In response to this incident, the Marine Corps has mandated an inspection of firearms and ammunition at all units and an evaluation of the physical condition of its soldiers. Furthermore, the armed service has initiated an audit into the amphibious unit in question, as well as the 1st Marine Division, since Sunday, following a series of related incidents. One such incident involved a soldier leaving his unit without authorization last week, only to be captured four hours later.