A fighter jet accidentally dropped multiple bombs on a civilian village in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, on Thursday, injuring seven people and damaging several buildings.
The South Korean Air Force confirmed that during a live-fire drill conducted as part of the Freedom Shield Exercise 2025, the annual military exercise between the South Korean and US militaries, a KF-16 fighter jet mistakenly released eight MK-82 bombs outside the designated firing range near the Seungjin Training Ground in Pocheon.
The bombs landed on a road near Nangyu Bridge in Nogok-ri, Idong-myeon, Pocheon -- approximately 50 kilometers northeast of Seoul -- at approximately 10:04 a.m.
Emergency responders transported four people with severe injuries and three with minor wounds to a hospital for treatment. Seven civilian homes, including a church building, were also damaged, though authorities have yet to fully assess the extent of the destruction.
The MK-82 bomb is an unguided air-dropped munition widely used for destroying structures such as buildings and bridges. It creates an explosion crater approximately 8 meters in diameter and 2.4 meters deep.
The live-fire drill was part of joint exercises involving the South Korean Air Force and Army, and US Forces Korea, with multiple fighter jets, including the F-35A, F-15K, KF-16 and FA-50, participating.
Following the incident, the Air Force launched an investigation led by Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff Park Ki-wan to determine the exact cause of the misfire and assess the damage.
The Freedom Shield Exercise 2025 is officially scheduled to take place from March 10 to 21.
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