An elementary schoolgirl in South Korea has been injured by a suspected stray bullet during a live-fire army exercise. The incident occurred on Monday afternoon at a playground in Daegu, North Gyeongsang Province.
The girl, who has not been identified, was struck below the neck and taken to hospital. She has since been discharged and returned home, according to local media reports.
The army was conducting rifle training at a shooting range approximately 1.4 kilometres from the playground. The military has launched an investigation into whether the injury was caused by a bullet from the drill.
An army official stated that safety inspections would be carried out at all firing ranges and that training would only resume after assessing potential risks. Army spokesperson Bae Seok-jin confirmed that individual firearms training has been suspended pending the investigation.
The firing range was built in 1995 and is equipped with protective barriers. Last year, South Korea faced a similar embarrassment when fighter jets accidentally dropped bombs on a residential area, injuring 30 people. However, civilian casualties from drills are rare.
