On Thursday, an unprecedented accidental airstrike during a ROK-U.S. joint military exercise resulted in multiple casualties.
According to South Korean military authorities, during the Freedom Shield (FS) exercise at the Seungjin Advanced Training Range in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, two ROK Air Force KF-16 fighter jets mistakenly dropped eight MK-82 air-to-ground bombs outside the designated firing range.
The errant bombs landed in a residential area, injuring five civilians and two military personnel, with some sustaining severe injuries.
This marks the first time a live-fire training accident involving an ROK Air Force fighter jet has resulted in human casualties.
In 2004, an ROK Air Force F-5B fighter jet accidentally dropped a practice bomb in Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province, but no injuries were reported at the time.
The ROK Air Force has established an Accident Response Committee, chaired by Vice Chief of Staff Park Ki Wan, to investigate the cause and extent of the incident.
At the time of the accident, the joint and combined integrated firepower live-fire drill was underway as part of the Freedom Shield exercise, a regular ROK-U.S. joint military drill designed to prepare for a potential conflict on the Korean Peninsula.
13 ROK Air Force fighter jets, including the F-35A, F-15K, KF-16, and FA-50, participated alongside ROK and U.S. Army forces. However, U.S. fighter jets were not involved in the training.
The accidental bomb drop occurred while the two KF-16s were releasing four MK-82 bombs each.
The MK-82 is a general-purpose unguided bomb commonly used to destroy buildings and bridges. It has an explosion radius of 8 meters and a crater depth of 2.4 meters. Unlike GPS-guided precision munitions, the MK-82 relies solely on manual targeting.
Although an investigation is still ongoing, early assessments suggest that the lack of precision guidance may have contributed to the accidental strike.
Two fighter jets simultaneously dropped bombs off target, raising concerns that incorrect bombing coordinates may have been set before the operation.
The accident came to light when civilians reported an explosion after an unidentified projectile crashed into a residential area.
However, the ROK military took 100 minutes to confirm the cause of the explosion.
The MK-82 bombs were mistakenly dropped at 10:04 a.m., but the ROK Air Force only informed reporters via a mobile text message at 11:41 a.m.
This delay raised speculation that the ROK Air Force was initially unaware of the mishap and only launched an investigation after news reports surfaced.
In an official statement, the ROK Air Force said, “We deeply regret that this accidental bomb drop has caused civilian casualties. We wish the injured a speedy recovery and will actively take all necessary measures, including compensation for damages.”