Damyang-gun Proposes Complete Closure of Shooting Range within Unit 1179

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong] Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Choi Hyung-sik) announced on the 28th that it has requested the Ministry of National Defense and other military-related agencies to completely close the shooting range within Unit 1179 to prevent the recurrence of casualties caused by a firearm accident at a military shooting range that occurred recently at a golf course.

On the 23rd, a female assistant referee in her 20s at a golf course in Damyang suffered a head injury and collapsed, and was transported to a hospital. During examination, a bullet was found in her head area. She is currently undergoing treatment after removal surgery.

Following the incident in which a civilian was shot, the military authorities urgently closed the shooting range at the military base and are investigating whether there were any safety or rescue issues. It has been confirmed that individual firearm training was underway at the military shooting range at the time of the accident.

The shooting range is located 1.7 km away from the golf course where the accident occurred, and it is close enough that the golf course often complains about noise when shooting training is conducted at the military base.

This has also caused anxiety among tourists visiting nearby areas and has negatively impacted the Damyang tourism industry.

Additionally, since 1983, two locations including this shooting range have been used as automatic weapon shooting ranges. In 2017, a large transport unit was established near the shooting range, and since then, the shooting range has been shared by two units, inevitably increasing the frequency of shooting training.

When the military base was established, there were almost no residential houses within the restricted distance, but as regional development progressed, various facilities such as tourist facilities, golf courses, and country houses have been constructed or are planned to be built around the shooting range.

After more than 40 years, many things have changed, and considering the protection of residents' lives, property, and safety, the level of risk exposure is much more serious. It is recognized that urgent measures are needed.

The military strongly demands the complete closure of the shooting range within the unit. If closure is not possible, they have sent a proposal letter to the Ministry of National Defense, Army Headquarters, Unit 1179, and other military-related agencies urging the installation and improvement of safety facilities such as indoor dome-shaped protective barriers, and to close the shooting range until safety measures are improved.

A military official stated, “We urge the closure until specific analyses of the impact on the shooting range’s interior as well as the surrounding area are conducted and countermeasures are prepared.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.