A Marine on leave has been placed under military investigation after being found intoxicated and in possession of live ammunition. Authorities suspect the Marine may have smuggled the ammunition during training.
According to the Marine Corps, on May 16, police received a report of a man passed out from intoxication near Yongsan Station in Seoul. Upon arrival, officers identified the man as Marine A, who was on leave.
During a search of A's belongings, police discovered multiple rounds of live ammunition. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, they promptly transferred A's custody to military police.
Investigations revealed that A had participated in combat training at the Korea Combat Training Center (KCTC) in Inje, Gangwon Province, prior to his leave. During questioning, A reportedly admitted to taking some unused live ammunition from the training without returning it.
The KCTC training is known for its realistic combat scenarios, which involve the use of significant amounts of live ammunition.
Military authorities are now exploring the possibility that A intentionally concealed the ammunition by exploiting weaknesses in the ammunition handling and return process following the training.
Under current military law, unauthorized removal of military property, including firearms and ammunition, is strictly prohibited. As a result, A is likely to face legal consequences.
Additionally, the Marine Corps plans to conduct a comprehensive review of ammunition management practices at frontline units to prevent similar incidents in the future.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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