Child Injured in Neck by Rifle Bullet at Playground... Army Suspends All Individual Firearm Training

All Individual Firearms Training Suspended
Follow-Up Measures to Be Taken After Risk Assessment

The Army announced on March 17 that it had suspended all individual firearm training sessions across all units following an incident on March 16, in which an elementary school student was injured by a rifle bullet at a playground in Daegu. The Army plans to resume shooting training only after conducting comprehensive safety inspections and risk assessments at all shooting ranges, implementing necessary follow-up measures such as reinforcing vulnerable areas.

Army soldiers during shooting training session

The previous day, an elementary school student playing at a playground in Buk-gu, Daegu, suffered a wound below the neck caused by a rifle bullet. The student was transported to a hospital, where the embedded object was removed, and later discharged; it has been reported that there is no threat to the student's life. It has been determined that a military shooting range is located 1.5 kilometers in a straight line from the site of the incident, and a shooting training session was held there on the day of the accident.

An Army official stated, "The bullet was confirmed to be in the student's wound during hospital treatment," adding, "A shooting training session did take place at a nearby shooting range on that day, but we are closely investigating any possible connection to the incident."

The K2 rifle 5.56mm standard round was used in the training session that day. The effective range of this round is known to be 460 meters, with a maximum range of 2.65 kilometers. Since its installation in 1995, there have been no recorded incidents at the shooting range in question, and safety facilities such as a protective backstop behind the targets are reportedly in place.

The Army stated that, under the direction of the Army Investigation Unit, it would inspect the accident site, review CCTV footage, and collect witness statements. The Army also explained that it would cover the student's medical expenses and provide compensation in accordance with national compensation procedures in the future.

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