Police Expand Voluntary Reporting of Illegal Weapons... Preventing Recurrence of 'Incheon Shooting Incident'

[Financial News] The police will advance the 'voluntary reporting of illegal weapons' period, which was conducted for one month every year, to two months starting next month. The goal is to prevent the recurrence of the homemade gun incident that occurred in Songdo, Incheon, by blocking illegal gun manufacturing posts online and conducting intensive crackdowns on illegal weapons.
The National Police Agency announced on the 23rd that it will advance the 'voluntary reporting period for illegal weapons,' which was operated for one month every September, to August and expand it to two months until September.
Individuals or representatives can visit nearby police stations (police stations, precincts, or substations) or military units operating reporting centers to submit illegal weapons. If voluntarily reported within the period, criminal and administrative penalties are exempted.
After the voluntary reporting period ends, an 'intensive crackdown on illegal weapons' will begin. Those caught manufacturing, selling, or possessing illegal firearms, such as homemade guns, can be sentenced to 3 to 15 years in prison or fined between 30 million and 100 million won under the Firearms and Explosives Control Act. Additionally, a maximum reward of 5 million won will be given if a report leads to the arrest of someone involved in illegal weapon manufacturing.
Monitoring of illegal homemade gun manufacturing posts online will also be strengthened. To prevent the spread of illegal information related to homemade guns and explosives on internet bulletin boards and platforms like YouTube, the police will fully utilize available personnel, including the Provincial Police Agency's public morals investigation team, police station order departments, and cybercrime investigation departments. They will also actively collaborate with the cyber honorary police, Nuricops. The police are also pursuing a plan to automate all processes, including illegal post detection and deletion/blocking requests to the Korea Communications Standards Commission, by establishing an AI-based constant inspection system in the 'Firearms and Explosives System' currently operated by the police.
Previously, the police prepared measures in 2016 following the incident where a police officer was killed by a homemade gun at the Opaesan Tunnel in Seoul. Amendments to the Firearms and Explosives Control Act were pursued to strengthen penalties for unlicensed manufacturing and illegal post distribution, and to increase arrest rewards. Additionally, over the past five years, 8,893 illegal posts on gun manufacturing methods have been requested for deletion/blocking, but homemade gun incidents have occurred again.
A police official stated, "Even if the police do their best, it is not easy to solve without active reporting and interest from the public, so participation and cooperation are needed," adding, "We will hold those accountable for serious crimes that threaten the lives of citizens to the end and will do our utmost to eradicate the distribution of homemade guns by mobilizing available resources."

unsaid@fnnews.com Kang Myung-yeon Reporter