4.2 Million Korean Tear Gas Canisters Exported Overseas in 4 Years... Mainly to Southeast Asia and Africa

Assemblywoman Baek Hyeryun "Monitoring Needed for Peaceful Use"

Baek Hye-ryun, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] It has been revealed that 3.42 million tear gas canisters produced domestically over the past four years were exported to countries in Southeast Asia, Southwest Asia, and Africa. There are calls for monitoring whether they are used for 'peaceful purposes.'

According to data on the 'Export Permit Status of Tear Gas and Launch Devices' submitted by the National Police Agency to Baek Hye-ryun, a member of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, 3,423,572 tear gas canisters and 19,619 launch devices were exported over the past four years.

The export destinations were mainly countries in Southeast Asia, Southwest Asia, Africa, and South America. Some were also exported to the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, but the majority were developing countries.

Tear gas and tear gas launch devices require permits from the provincial police agency under the Firearms and Ammunition Act to be exported, and since they are classified as 'strategic items' under the Foreign Trade Act, approval from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration is also required. Strategic items refer to goods that require export restrictions to maintain international peace and security and national security. Accordingly, tear gas is permitted only when used for 'peaceful purposes.'

In South Korea, tear gas is rarely used for dispersing assemblies or protests recently, but it remains one of the commonly used tools for riot control in some countries. However, Baek pointed out that, so far, the police have not monitored whether Korean-made tear gas is used for peaceful purposes in major export countries.

Baek said, "In the future, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and others should cooperate to monitor whether the importing countries of Korean-made tear gas and launch devices are actually using them for peaceful purposes. If Korean-made tear gas is found not to be used for peaceful purposes, the National Police Agency and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration should actively consider banning exports."

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