Pocheon: Fifteen individuals sustained injuries after two Air Force KF-16 fighter jets accidentally released bombs outside a designated training area during live-fire exercises. The incident occurred over a village in Pocheon, approximately 40 kilometers north of Seoul, resulting in damage to a church and several buildings.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the accidental bombing occurred around 10 a.m., injuring 15 people, including two soldiers and two foreigners. Among the injured, two civilian men suffered serious injuries and were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries to the face and shoulder. An additional eight individuals with minor injuries were also hospitalized. Authorities anticipate a rise in the number of injured as more individuals seek treatment.
Approximately 50 residents evacuated the area, seeking shelter at a local town hall. Military officials reported that the KF-16 jets "abnormally" released eight MK-82 bombs outside the training range at 10:04 a.m. The Air Force has initiated an investigation led by Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Park Ki-wan and issued an apology for the incident, expressing regret over the civilian damage and extending wishes for the injured's swift recovery. The Air Force also committed to taking necessary measures, including compensation for damages.
This incident marks the first accidental bombing by South Korean fighter jets resulting in casualties. A similar incident in 2004 involved an Air Force F-5B releasing a practice bomb over Boryeong, but no injuries were reported. Earlier in the day, combined live-fire drills involving South Korean and U.S. forces took place near the inter-Korean border. The exercise at the Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon involved over 160 military assets, including K2 tanks, Apache helicopters, and F-35A jets, demonstrating military readiness in response to North Korean threats.