100 live rounds missing at Daejeon Prison; Justice Ministry dispatches probe team

By Park Hye-won, The Herald Business

Authorities have launched an investigation after signs emerged that 100 live rounds of ammunition had gone missing from Daejeon Prison.

The Ministry of Justice said Saturday that a comprehensive audit of Daejeon Prison conducted from June 8 to June 12 had uncovered a discrepancy between the number of rounds recorded in the facility's ledger and the amount actually on hand. The missing ammunition consists of 9mm pistol rounds — 100 fewer than the quantity listed in official records.

However, it has not yet been confirmed whether the rounds physically disappeared from storage or whether the ledger entries were simply recorded in error. The ministry said it would also examine whether the discrepancy involved regulatory violations, including inadequate armory inspections.

The ministry has assembled a 10-member investigation team, led by the head of the Correctional Headquarters' Security Policy Division, and dispatched it to Daejeon Prison.

"We will conduct a comprehensive inspection of all correctional facilities nationwide to review the status of weapons and ammunition management, and establish measures to prevent a recurrence," the ministry said.