At least 15 civilians have been injured after South Korean fighter jets accidentally dropped eight bombs on a residential area during a joint live-fire drill with US forces, Seoul’s military confirmed on Thursday.
The incident occurred in Pocheon city, approximately 40 kilometres northeast of Seoul, near the heavily militarised border with North Korea.
Two KF-16 fighter jets were participating in the annual US-South Korea “Freedom Shield” military exercises when they mistakenly released eight 500lb (225kg) MK-82 bombs outside the designated firing range at approximately 10:07 a.m. local time.
According to the South Korean Air Force, a pilot entered incorrect bombing coordinates, causing all eight bombs to detonate in a civilian area.
The blasts destroyed two residential buildings, part of a church, and a truck. Images from the scene showed a house with a large hole in its structure, debris scattered around a church, and shattered shop windows.
Residents described the aftermath as devastating, with dust and smoke rising into the sky. A local resident, 65-year-old Oh Moung-su, recounted hearing a deafening explosion before seeing homes reduced to rubble and injured individuals struggling to escape from vehicles.
Emergency responders confirmed that 15 civilians were injured, including two who sustained serious wounds. In total, 29 people were affected, including 14 soldiers.
The National Fire Agency stated that no cases of cardiac arrest or unconsciousness had been reported.
Pocheon Mayor Baek Young-hyun described the situation as “chaotic, resembling a battlefield.” He acknowledged that residents had long expressed concerns about the risks posed by the nearby military training grounds and urged authorities to implement preventive measures to avoid future incidents.
In response to the accident, South Korea’s military announced the suspension of all live-fire training until a thorough investigation is completed.
An accident response team has been established to determine the cause of the incident, assess the scale of the damage, and ensure proper compensation for affected civilians. The air force issued an official apology, expressing regret over the civilian damage and extending well wishes to the injured.
An unnamed Defence Ministry official stated that further investigation was required to understand why the second jet also dropped bombs on the civilian area. While initial findings indicate human error, authorities have not ruled out the possibility of a technical malfunction.
A spokesperson for the United States Forces Korea (USFK) later clarified that no US Air Force aircraft were involved in the exercise. While live-fire training remains suspended, other planned military drills will proceed as scheduled. The USFK is collaborating with South Korean authorities to support the investigation.
