Two 81mm mortar shells found on Incheon's Yeongheung Island, military collects them
In short
A man in his 60s on Yeongheung Island in Incheon's Ongjin County called the 112 emergency line on Oct. 3 to report that he possessed two 81mm mortar shells, police said. Police said the rounds carried no explosion risk and a military explosive ordnance disposal team collected both the same day. The man told police he had found the shells during construction work while living in Yanggu, Gangwon Province, and kept them in a warehouse before moving to Yeongheung Island.
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Police in Incheon said a man in his 60s called the 112 emergency line at about 11:40 a.m. on Oct. 3 to report that he possessed mortar shells on Yeongheung Island in Ongjin County, according to Yonhap and Dong-A Ilbo. The rounds were two 81mm mortar shells and carried no explosion risk, the reports said, citing Incheon Jemulpo Police Station. [ 2 , 3 ]
The man told police he had found the shells during construction work while living in Yanggu, Gangwon Province, kept them in a warehouse and brought them with him when he moved to Yeongheung Island, the reports said. A military explosive ordnance disposal team collected both shells the same day. [ 2 , 3 ]
Dong-A Ilbo quoted a police officer as saying the shells had not leaked from the military and that specifics could not be confirmed because the matter concerns national security. Yonhap quoted police as saying the man reported shells he had held himself, and that military authorities would investigate the details. Newsis reported the find and the military collection without further detail. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The case is a routine ordnance-handling incident rather than an attack or accident, but it involves military munitions held privately and then handed to a military disposal team, with police citing security grounds for withholding details. It also illustrates how such discoveries are reported and processed in South Korea: a call to police, followed by a military EOD response. The documents provide no information on any further consequences for the man involved.
Key facts
- Two 81mm mortar shells were found on Yeongheung Island in Ongjin County, Incheon, and a military explosive ordnance disposal team collected them. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- A man in his 60s reported to police on Oct. 3 that he possessed the shells, calling the 112 emergency line. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Police said the shells carried no explosion risk. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Police said the man had found the shells during construction work while living in Yanggu, Gangwon Province, stored them in a warehouse and brought them when he moved to Yeongheung Island. [ 2 , 3 ]
- A police officer said the shells had not leaked from the military and that specifics could not be confirmed because it is a security matter. [ 2 ]
- Yonhap reported that police said military authorities would investigate the details of the case. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Two 81mm mortar shells were found on Yeongheung Island in Incheon, and the military collected them. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- A man in his 60s contacted police to report that he possessed the shells, on Oct. 3 at about 11:40 a.m. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Police said the shells posed no explosion risk. [ 2 , 3 ]
- According to police, the man had found the shells during construction work while living in Yanggu, Gangwon Province, kept them in a warehouse, and moved them to Yeongheung Island. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the shells came from the military. Dong-A Ilbo quoted a police officer saying they had not leaked from the military, but police declined to confirm specifics, calling it a security matter, and Yonhap reported only that the military would investigate the details.
- When and at which construction site the man found the shells. The documents describe construction in Yanggu, Gangwon Province, in the past but give no date or location details.
- Whether any legal measures or charges follow for the man. No document mentions any legal proceedings or penalties.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- A man in his 60s on Yeongheung Island, Ongjin County, Incheon, calls the 112 emergency line to report that he possesses mortar shells; a military explosive ordnance disposal team collects two 81mm rounds the same day. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Newsis reports that an 81mm mortar shell was found on Yeongheung Island and collected by the military. [ 1 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo reports the find, the man's self-report and police statements. [ 2 ]
- Yonhap reports the self-report, the EOD collection and pending military investigation. [ 3 ]