Seoul precinct collects 27 weapons in first-of-its-kind local currency buyback program

The Geumcheon Police Station in Seoul announced Friday that its first-of-its-kind weapons buyback program — in which residents receive local currency vouchers in exchange for surrendering licensed weapons — collected 27 firearms, blades and other weapons over 110 days.

From Feb. 23 to June 12, the station offered local currency payments to registered residents of Geumcheon-gu who voluntarily surrendered licensed firearms, crossbows, bladed weapons and electric stun guns.

The 27 voluntary surrenders represented a sharp increase from just one during the same period last year, and exceeded the full-year 2025 total of 18 surrenders by more than 50 percent.

Bladed weapons accounted for the largest share at 16 cases, followed by three hunting rifles, three air guns and three stun guns, with one nail gun and one crossbow rounding out the total. Particularly notable was the increase in hunting rifles, air guns and personal bladed weapons that owners had simply been storing for long periods.

The program was launched amid growing public anxiety over a string of violent crimes involving bladed weapons, including a 2024 Japanese-sword killing in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, and a 2025 homemade-firearm murder.

The station said the program effectively reduced potential crime risks by encouraging residents to surrender weapons they no longer needed. However, it acknowledged that outreach had not sufficiently reached Geumcheon-gu residents who held weapon permits issued in other districts, and identified that as an area for improvement.

"We will continue to pursue a range of initiatives to strengthen community safety in Geumcheon-gu and work toward making it a safer place," said Baek Hye-gyeong, chief of the Geumcheon Police Station.