7 military officers disciplined over lax management of firearms: data

Seoul, September 1 - The South Korean military has disciplined seven officers in recent months over inadequate firearm management and ammunition handling, according to data obtained by Yonhap News Agency. The disciplinary actions, spanning the second half of last year and the first half of 2026, were reported to Rep. Kim Byung-joo of the Democratic Party.

Among the seven officers, two received severe punishments, while a Navy officer faced a one-month suspension and an Air Force officer lost a rank. These measures followed an extensive ministry inspection launched in October last year, triggered by a series of firearm-related deaths and ammunition shortages within the military. Last month, a Marine noncommissioned officer was found dead from a gunshot wound at a housing unit in Pohang, approximately 270 kilometers southeast of Seoul.

In response to heightened public concerns over military firearm incidents, Rep. Kim urged the armed forces to enhance routine firearm inspections and reporting systems. The defense ministry will conduct its regular twice-monthly inspection of firearms and ammunition on Tuesday, examining the management of guns and ammunition at around 300 military units.