Correctional authorities launched an intensive investigation after discovering that 100 rounds of pistol ammunition were missing from Daejeon Prison compared with inventory records, but ultimately failed to locate them. A similar case in which 40 rounds disappeared was additionally confirmed at Cheonan Prison, prompting a police investigation.
According to the legal community on the 26th, the Ministry of Justice's Korea Correctional Service recently formally requested a police investigation to determine the cause of the ammunition loss at Daejeon Prison.
Earlier, the Ministry of Justice discovered during a comprehensive audit of Daejeon Prison in June that the quantity of ammunition recorded in the ledger did not match the actual amount in stock.
The missing ammunition consists of 9mm K-5 rounds, 100 rounds fewer than the quantity recorded in the ledger.
The Ministry of Justice formed an investigation team led by the head of the Correctional Service's security policy division to intensively examine whether the ammunition had been taken outside the facility.
The investigation confirmed there was no possibility of a simple ledger error or misrecording. It also determined there was no possibility that the live rounds had been lost inside the ammunition depot.
Considering the possibility that the ammunition had been taken outside, authorities searched the home of the employee in charge of ammunition management, but the live rounds were not found.
The Ministry of Justice has not ruled out the possibility that a problem arose during the ammunition delivery process. Officials say the supplier, which packages ammunition by hand, may have packaged 100 fewer rounds from the outset and delivered them to the prison.
However, given the limits of clarifying the exact circumstances through administrative investigation alone, the matter was referred to the police.
In addition, authorities conducted a full inspection of firearm and ammunition management at correctional facilities nationwide, and found circumstances indicating a similar case had occurred at Cheonan Prison.
At Cheonan Prison, 5.56mm M16 rounds were reported to be 40 rounds fewer than the quantity recorded in the ledger. Authorities also referred the Cheonan Prison case to the police.
"We plan to establish a comprehensive ammunition management plan for correctional facilities that reflects best practices from the military and police," a Ministry of Justice official said. "We will strengthen the management system by improving the entire process from initial receipt of ammunition through management and inspection, and by overhauling relevant regulations."
