History of Firearm Ban in South Korea

KnockKnockItsMe

12 days ago

Post-Korean War (1950–1953):
- Widespread availability of firearms due to war surplus.
- High civilian gun violence, with frequent murders reported in the 1950s (per National Forensic Service).
- Security threats from North Korean infiltration heightened concerns about civilian firearm access.
1960s:
- Continued issues with armed violence, e.g., news reports like “Armed Violence Increases Further in October” (1965).
- Government began recognizing the need for stricter control amid internal instability and external threats.
1970s – Park Chung-hee’s Military Dictatorship:
- Enactment of the Act on the Safety Management of Guns, Swords, Explosives, etc.:
  - Centralized firearm regulation.
  - Required private firearms to be stored at police stations.
  - Mandated extensive background checks and regular permit renewals.
- State-led gun confiscation campaigns to reduce civilian firearm ownership.
- Policies driven by regime’s need to maintain control and prevent dissent, fearing communist uprisings.
1980s:
- Significant decline in gun violence due to strict enforcement of regulations.
- Rare incidents included:
  - 1982 Kyongsang province shooting: Policeman killed 56 people in a drunken spree, one of the deadliest global mass shootings at the time.
  - 1973 Lee Jae-su case: Soldier killed eight people, linked to military access rather than civilian ownership.
Modern Era (1990s–Present):
- South Korea maintains some of the world’s strictest gun laws:
  - Civilians largely prohibited from owning handguns or automatic weapons.
  - Exceptions for hunters, Olympic shooters, and security for high-profile figures.
  - Firearms must be stored at police stations, not in homes.
  - Even toy guns resembling real firearms are banned.
  - Penalties for illegal possession: up to 7 years in prison or $18,000 in fines.
- 2016 statistics:
  - 138,751 registered private guns (27 per 10,000 people, vs. U.S.’s 8,900 per 10,000).
  - Only 105 illegal firearms confiscated at major ports/airports (2012–2016).
  - Firearms involved in 0.55% of murders and 0.02% of assaults.