According to military authorities, the accident occurred at around 10 a.m. when a KF-16 fighter jet taking part in the drill accidentally dropped eight artillery shells outside a training range in Pochoen, Gyeonggi Province, injuring seven villagers and destroying several buildings in the surrounding area.
The blast caused panic, prompting frightened residents to evacuate the area.
The firing drill, which scrambled a series of fighter jets, was conducted just ahead of the annual joint exercise with the U.S., dubbed "Freedom Shield," involving aircraft, warships, and tanks, which is set to kick off next week.
The Air Force said it is investigating the accident and has apologized for the damage caused to residents. The initial investigation blamed pilot error, suspected to have caused the accident, as the fighter jet possibly strayed from its planned flight path due to incorrect target coordinates.
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