[2026 Audit] "Sealed Magazine" Presented at National Assembly... Defense Ministry: "Improved Seal Stickers Being Supplied"

Park Sunwon Demonstrates Issue Using Model Firearm
Kang Shincheol: "Combat Testing Completed on Improved Seal Stickers for Smooth Ammunition Feeding"

The issue of seal stickers causing malfunctions during magazine loading and related processes was discussed at the National Assembly audit of the Ministry of National Defense on October 7. The Ministry of National Defense explained that improved seal stickers, which allow immediate firing even if the magazine is loaded with the seal attached, are being supplied to front-line units.

Park Sunwon, a member of the Democratic Party, raised concerns about the magazine seal sticker issue during the National Defense Committee audit of the Ministry of National Defense that took place that day. Assemblyman Park demonstrated the problem by loading a magazine with the seal sticker still attached into a model pistol, showing that the gun failed to fire properly and the magazine itself could not be removed smoothly.

Park Sunwon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is holding a model pistol while questioning at the National Assembly National Defense Committee's audit of the Ministry of National Defense held at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the 7th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Until now, the military has managed magazines by attaching seal stickers, primarily to prevent the loss of ammunition. However, the presence of the seal sticker has impaired immediate response. Assemblyman Park pointed out, "The (paper) can get jammed between the gun components and become stuck, and during the second or third round, the cartridge could explode or eject unexpectedly, potentially injuring soldiers." While recognizing the need for seal stickers for safety and ammunition management, he also stated, "Even if the seal is not removed before loading, there should be no issues with firing, and the magazine should come out smoothly."

Defense Minister Kang Shincheol responded to Assemblyman Park's questions by saying, "Thank you for the important point," and noted, "The military was aware of this issue as well, so we changed the magazine to a transparent design and also completed combat testing on a new style of seal sticker to ensure smooth ammunition feeding." Minister Kang added, "We are distributing these improvements to front-line units to ensure immediate firing is possible. The problems related to the sticker jamming or the magazine not ejecting have been addressed."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.