Air Rifle and About 60 Live Rounds Discovered in Abandoned Factory in Guro Industrial Complex... Police Investigation Underway

Seoul Guro Police Station. [Provided by Yonhap News TV]

An air rifle and live ammunition were discovered in an abandoned factory in Seoul's Guro Industrial Complex, prompting a police investigation.

According to police on the 11th, the Seoul Guro Police Station discovered and collected one rifle and about 60 rounds of ammunition in an abandoned factory in Guro Industrial Complex, Guro-gu, on the 9th. The police are currently conducting a preliminary investigation (preliminary inquiry) into a man in his 70s, identified as Mr. A, the lessee of the abandoned factory, on charges of violating the Firearms and Ammunition Control Act.

The discovered firearm was an air rifle with a steel barrel and a wooden stock. In addition, about 10 rifle cartridges and about 50 military blank cartridges were found.

The factory where the firearms were found had been inoperative due to a prolonged eviction lawsuit.

It is understood that a waste disposal company, commissioned by the landlord, discovered the firearms and live ammunition while cleaning the factory during the enforcement process and reported it to the police.

The police are sending the firearms and air rifle cartridges to the Firearms and Ammunition Safety Technology Association under the National Police Agency for appraisal. The blank cartridges will be appraised by a nearby military unit, and the results will be shared.

The police are investigating Mr. A, the lessee of the abandoned factory, as the owner of the firearms.

However, Mr. A is not at his residence and cannot be reached, so the police are attempting to locate him.

A police official stated, "The discovered firearms are presumed to be unregistered," adding, "However, we are also investigating the possibility that the firearms were acquired during the era when registration was done manually before computerization." Yonhap News