Crackdown After Songdo Murder: 19 Arrested, 341 Illegal Guns Seized in South Korea

South Korea Intensifies Crackdown on Homemade Guns After Songdo Murder

SEOUL — South Korean authorities have arrested 19 individuals and seized hundreds of illegal firearms and weapon-related items as part of a nationwide crackdown on homemade gun manufacturing and distribution, officials said Friday.

The joint task force—comprised of the National Police Agency, the Korea Customs Service, and the National Intelligence Service—was launched in September last year following a deadly homemade gun murder in Songdo, Incheon.

According to the National Police Agency, all 19 suspects have been referred to prosecutors, with two placed under formal arrest. This marks a significant enforcement outcome compared to 2024, when no arrests related to homemade firearms were recorded.

Hundreds of Illegal Weapons and Parts Seized

Authorities confiscated:

3 illegal firearms

338 imitation or modified guns

272 rifle scopes

Large quantities of firearm parts, bladed weapons, and explosives

The seized items were either transferred to prosecutors or destroyed.

The task force was established to prevent repeat incidents by identifying and neutralizing high-risk individuals involved in illegal gun production and distribution.

Focus on High-Risk Individuals and Overseas Purchases

Customs and intelligence authorities conducted detailed analyses of overseas direct-purchase records involving gun parts, manufacturing tools, and related equipment, as well as terrorism-related intelligence.

Individuals deemed capable of progressing beyond curiosity to actual firearm production were classified as “high-risk” and referred to police for investigation.

Stronger Border Controls and Online Monitoring

As part of broader preventive measures, the Korea Customs Service announced plans to strengthen X-ray inspections for firearm-related components regulated under the Gunpowder and Firearms Control Act to block smuggling attempts.

Even items not explicitly regulated will be subject to enhanced scrutiny. A dedicated data analysis team will closely monitor import records and share intelligence with police when potential risks are identified.

The National Police Agency has also intensified efforts to remove illegal online content related to firearm manufacturing. Requests to delete or block such content surged from 1,587 cases in 2024 to 10,831 cases last year, an increase of 582.5%.

In addition, police reported arresting 112 individuals nationwide last year in connection with illegal weapons-related offenses.

Authorities Vow Continued Enforcement

The joint task force stated that it is tracking security blind spots that are difficult to detect through border control or domestic policing alone, emphasizing inter-agency intelligence sharing to identify threats early.

Officials reaffirmed their commitment to preemptively blocking violent crimes involving illegal firearms through sustained enforcement and institutional cooperation.