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Korea Herald
6 days ago
- Korea Herald
Fatal shooting sparks alarm over DIY firearms
A deadly domestic shooting in Songdo, Incheon, has reignited alarm in South Korea over the lack of regulation on homemade firearms and the ease of access to online content that teaches users how to build them. On Sunday, a 63-year-old man was arrested on charges of murder after allegedly shooting his son with a homemade shotgun filled with metal pellets at their residence in Songdo, Incheon. The victim, a 33-year-old man, was rushed to the hospital but did not survive his injuries. Police officials at Incheon Yeonsu Police Station later told the press that, during questioning, the suspect said he had learned how to make the gun by watching tutorial videos on YouTube. He cited ongoing family conflicts as the motive for the crime. Searching the suspect's vehicle, the police discovered nine gun barrels and additional raw materials needed to assemble guns, such as metal pipes, at his home. While searching his car and residence, police seized a total of 15 guns and explosive devices that he had made. After news of the suspect's confession, concerns have grown in Korea over how easy it is to access information on making weapons. A simple online search of keywords such as 'DIY gun' or 'homemade pistol' on platforms such as YouTube showed numerous videos demonstrating how to make guns with materials such as steel pipes, metal rods and even cardboard. On social platform X, posts offering instructions on how to manufacture a gun using a 3D printer or sharing links to websites offering such services were also easily accessible. Under Korean law, the possession, manufacture or distribution of firearms is prohibited without police authorization. Legal use is limited to specific purposes such as licensed hunting or military-related manufacturing. Violations of this law are punishable by three to 15 years in prison or fines ranging from 30 million won to 100 million won ($22,000 to $72,000). But while it is illegal to make a homemade gun, it is incredibly difficult to detect. Preventing them is also difficult — especially when tutorials on how to assemble such firearms are posted to online platforms by users outside Korea. According to the Korean National Police Agency, no illicit homemade firearms were confiscated in the last five years, from 2020 to 2024. Yet, four cases involving such weapons — two in 2023 and one each in 2022 and 2021 — were reported in the same period. Experts are calling for tighter controls on such homemade firearms to ensure the making of unregistered firearms is controlled to some degree. 'The government needs to take stronger action toward content posted online that provides instructions on how to assemble homemade guns,' professor Kwack Dae-gyung from Dongguk University's Department of Police Administration told The Korea Herald. 'Authorities must ramp up surveillance of such content and take appropriate actions against it, (to prevent it) from being distributed further online, such as permanently deleting similar content.' Experts also note that even with stricter content controls, enforcement alone may not be enough to prevent similar incidents, given the accessibility of the everyday materials used in such weapons. 'Since the firearm used in the recent Songdo shooting incident was made using parts that are commonly used (for everyday purposes), it seems difficult to establish countermeasures against the distribution of such materials,' professor Lee Keon-su from Baekseok University's Department of Police Administration added to The Korea Herald. 'Nevertheless, to prevent similar crimes, a reporting system should be established that allows people to report and provide tips to authorities when similar purchasing patterns that indicate possible danger are visible.'
The Star
22-07-2025
- The Star
Fatal shooting in South Korea sparks alarm over DIY firearms
Police tape sealed off the suspect's apartment in Dobong, Seoul, on July 21 after the authorities found and safely removed a makeshift explosive. - Photo: The Korea Herald/ANN SEOUL: A deadly domestic shooting in Songdo, Incheon, has reignited alarm in South Korea over the lack of regulation on homemade firearms and the ease of access to online content that teaches users how to build them. On Sunday (July 20), a 63-year-old man was arrested on charges of murder after allegedly shooting his son with a homemade shotgun filled with metal pellets at their residence in Songdo, Incheon. The victim, a 33-year-old man, was rushed to the hospital but did not survive his injuries. Police officials at Incheon Yeonsu Police Station later told the press that, during questioning, the suspect said he had learned how to make the gun by watching tutorial videos on YouTube. He cited ongoing family conflicts as the motive for the crime. Searching the suspect's vehicle, the police discovered nine gun barrels and additional raw materials needed to assemble guns, such as metal pipes, at his home. While searching his car and residence, police seized a total of 15 guns and explosive devices that he had made. After news of the suspect's confession, concerns have grown in Korea over how easy it is to access information on making weapons. A simple online search of keywords such as 'DIY gun' or 'homemade pistol' on platforms such as YouTube showed numerous videos demonstrating how to make guns with materials such as steel pipes, metal rods and even cardboard. On social platform X, posts offering instructions on how to manufacture a gun using a 3D printer or sharing links to websites offering such services were also easily accessible. Under Korean law, the possession, manufacture or distribution of firearms is prohibited without police authorization. Legal use is limited to specific purposes such as licensed hunting or military-related manufacturing. Violations of this law are punishable by three to 15 years in prison or fines ranging from 30 million won to 100 million won (US$22,000 to US$72,000). But while it is illegal to make a homemade gun, it is incredibly difficult to detect. Preventing them is also difficult — especially when tutorials on how to assemble such firearms are posted to online platforms by users outside Korea. According to the Korean National Police Agency, no illicit homemade firearms were confiscated in the last five years, from 2020 to 2024. Yet, four cases involving such weapons — two in 2023 and one each in 2022 and 2021 — were reported in the same period. Experts are calling for tighter controls on such homemade firearms to ensure the making of unregistered firearms is controlled to some degree. 'The government needs to take stronger action toward content posted online that provides instructions on how to assemble homemade guns,' professor Kwack Dae-gyung from Dongguk University's Department of Police Administration told The Korea Herald. 'Authorities must ramp up surveillance of such content and take appropriate actions against it, (to prevent it) from being distributed further online, such as permanently deleting similar content.' Experts also note that even with stricter content controls, enforcement alone may not be enough to prevent similar incidents, given the accessibility of the everyday materials used in such weapons. 'Since the firearm used in the recent Songdo shooting incident was made using parts that are commonly used (for everyday purposes), it seems difficult to establish countermeasures against the distribution of such materials,' professor Lee Keon-su from Baekseok University's Department of Police Administration added to The Korea Herald. 'Nevertheless, to prevent similar crimes, a reporting system should be established that allows people to report and provide tips to authorities when similar purchasing patterns that indicate possible danger are visible.' - The Korea Herald/ANN
Straits Times
22-07-2025
- Straits Times
Fatal shooting in South Korea sparks alarm over DIY firearms
Police tape sealed off the suspect's apartment in Dobong, Seoul, on July 21 after the authorities found and safely removed a makeshift explosive. SEOUL - A deadly domestic shooting in Songdo, Incheon, has reignited alarm in South Korea over the lack of regulation on home-made firearms and the ease of access to online content that teaches users how to build them. On July 20, a 63-year-old man was arrested on charges of murder after allegedly shooting his son with a home-made shotgun filled with metal pellets at their residence in Songdo, Incheon. The victim, a 33-year-old man, was rushed to the hospital but did not survive his injuries. Police officials at Incheon Yeonsu Police Station later told the press that, during questioning, the suspect said he had learnt how to make the gun by watching tutorial videos on YouTube. He cited ongoing family conflicts as the motive for the crime. Searching the suspect's vehicle, the police discovered nine gun barrels and additional raw materials needed to assemble guns, such as metal pipes, at his home. While searching his car and residence, police seized a total of 15 guns and explosive devices that he had made. After news of the suspect's confession, concerns have grown in Korea over how easy it is to access information on making weapons. A simple online search of keywords such as 'DIY gun' or 'home-made pistol' on platforms such as YouTube showed numerous videos demonstrating how to make guns with materials such as steel pipes, metal rods and even cardboard. On social platform X, posts offering instructions on how to manufacture a gun using a 3D printer or sharing links to websites offering such services were also easily accessible. Under Korean law, the possession, manufacture or distribution of firearms is prohibited without police authorisation. Legal use is limited to specific purposes, such as licensed hunting or military-related manufacturing. Violations of this law are punishable by three to 15 years in prison or fines ranging from 30 million won (S$27,700) to 100 million won. But while it is illegal to make a home-made gun, it is incredibly difficult to detect. Preventing them is also difficult – especially when tutorials on how to assemble such firearms are posted to online platforms by users outside Korea. According to the Korean National Police Agency, no illicit home-made firearms were confiscated in the last five years, from 2020 to 2024. Yet, four cases involving such weapons – two in 2023 and one each in 2022 and 2021 – were reported in the same period. Experts are calling for tighter controls on such homemade firearms to ensure the making of unregistered firearms is controlled to some degree. 'The government needs to take stronger action toward content posted online that provides instructions on how to assemble home-made guns,' Professor Kwack Dae-gyung from Dongguk University's Department of Police Administration told The Korea Herald. 'Authorities must ramp up surveillance of such content and take appropriate actions against it, (to prevent it) from being distributed further online, such as permanently deleting similar content.' Experts also note that even with stricter content controls, enforcement alone may not be enough to prevent similar incidents, given the accessibility of the everyday materials used in such weapons. 'Since the firearm used in the recent Songdo shooting incident was made using parts that are commonly used (for everyday purposes), it seems difficult to establish countermeasures against the distribution of such materials,' Professor Lee Keon-su from Baekseok University's Department of Police Administration told The Korea Herald. 'Nevertheless, to prevent similar crimes, a reporting system should be established that allows people to report and provide tips to authorities when similar purchasing patterns that indicate possible danger are visible.' THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Korea Herald
22-07-2025
- Korea Herald
DIY gun shooting sparks alarm over easy access, lax controls
A deadly domestic shooting in Songdo, Incheon, has reignited alarm in South Korea over the lack of regulation on homemade firearms and the ease of access to online content that teaches users how to build them. On Sunday, a 63-year-old man was arrested on charges of murder after allegedly shooting his son with a homemade shotgun filled with metal pellets at their residence in Songdo, Incheon. The victim, a 33-year-old man, was rushed to the hospital but did not survive his injuries. Police officials at Incheon Yeonsu Police Station later told the press that during questioning, the suspect revealed he had learned how to make the gun by watching tutorial videos on YouTube. He cited ongoing family conflicts as the motive behind the crime. Searching the suspect's vehicle, the police discovered nine gun barrels and additional raw materials needed to assemble guns, such as metal pipes, at his home. In total, police seized 15 manufactured guns and explosive devices from his car and residence. After news of the suspect's confession, concerns have grown in Korean society over how easy it is to access information on manufacturing weapons and how such information is not being properly managed. A simple online search of keywords such as 'DIY gun' or 'homemade pistol' on platforms such as YouTube showed numerous videos demonstrating how to make homemade guns with materials such as steel pipes, metal rods and even cardboard. On social platform X, posts offering instructions on how to manufacture a gun using a 3D printer or sharing links to websites offering such services were also easily accessible. Under Korean law, the possession, manufacture or distribution of firearms is strictly prohibited without police authorization. Legal use is limited to specific purposes such as licensed hunting or military-related manufacturing. Violations of this law are punishable by three to 15 years in prison or fines ranging from 30 million won to 100 million won ($22,000 to $72,000). Though the manufacturing of homemade guns is strictly prohibited, it is incredibly difficult to uncover such cases — especially when tutorials on how to assemble such firearms are posted to online platforms by users outside Korea. According to the Korean National Police Agency, no illicit homemade firearms were confiscated in nationwide crackdowns over the last five years, from 2020 to 2024. Yet, four cases involving such weapons — two in 2023 and one each in 2022 and 2021 — were reported in the same period. Experts are calling for tighter controls on such homemade firearms to ensure the manufacturing of unregistered firearms is controlled to some degree. 'The government needs to take stronger action toward content posted online that provides instructions on how to assemble homemade guns,' professor Kwack Dae-gyung from Dongguk University's Department of Police Administration told The Korea Herald. 'Authorities must ramp up surveillance (of) such content and take appropriate actions against it, (to prevent it) from being distributed further online, such as permanently deleting similar content.' Experts also note that even with stricter content controls, enforcement alone may not be enough to prevent similar incidents, given the accessibility of everyday materials used in such weapons. 'Since the firearm used in the recent Songdo shooting incident was made using commonly used parts, it seems difficult to establish countermeasures against the distribution of such materials,' professor Lee Keon-su from Baekseok University's Department of Police Administration added to The Korea Herald. 'Nevertheless, to prevent similar crimes, a reporting system should be established that allows people to report and provide tips to authorities when similar purchasing patterns that indicate possible danger are visible.'
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Korean rapper San E gets cleared of trespassing charges; shares update on social media
Korean rapper San E, who was once extremely popular and active in the industry, has recently been involved in a major controversy. The celebrity, earlier this year, had been sued by fellow labelmate Leta for trespassing as well as other criminal charges. Now, in the latest turn of events, the idol has been cleared by the authorities of all charges that were filed against him. San E gets cleared of trespassing charges On July 8, the idol confirmed that he has officially been cleared of all charges that were filed against him by Leta earlier this year. He took to his social media account and shared a post to announce the news. The post consisted of a screenshot of a notification from the Korean National Police Agency's National Investigation Headquarters. The notice read, 'This is the Yangcheon Police Station in Seoul. We inform you that the case regarding your violation of the Act on Punishment of Violent Acts (joint trespassing, joint destruction of property, etc.) has been closed due to insufficient evidence. The case has been dismissed (no charges)'. What had happened earlier? In March of this year, Leta, who is a Chinese national and was in the country due to her visa issues, alleged that San E had trespassed into her home in South Korea. She had stated that the idol paid off a man named Mr Jung, and had instructed him to enter the house and dispose of whatever furniture he found. She filed a case against San E and Jung for joint trespassing as well as concealment of property. This is not the first time that the celebrity has managed to find himself in the middle of legal trouble. In July last year, he was even charged with assault after harming a passerby with a mobile phone in Mapo-gu, Seoul. The parties involved all settled at the time and received the suspension of prosecution as well.
