SEOUL, Jan. 12 (Korea Bizwire) – In a significant advancement for military training facilities, the South Korean Army has unveiled the nation’s first shooting range with a barrier wall structure, designed to drastically reduce grenade shrapnel, stray bullets, and firing noise. This ground-breaking development represents a major step forward in enhancing both training efficiency and community safety.
The completion of the new shooting range was celebrated with a ceremony held on January 11 in Iksan, North Jeolla Province, under the supervision of the Army Chief of Staff, General Park An-su. The event was attended by over 60 key figures including representatives from various military and civic departments.
The new facility, which took three years to construct at a cost of approximately 9 billion won, is equipped with innovative features to prevent civilian accidents caused by stray bullets and shrapnel and to address noise complaints that have historically limited training exercises.
The South Korean Army has unveiled the nation’s first shooting range with a barrier wall structure. (Image courtesy of ROKA)
The design includes a 10-meter-high frontal barrier wall, with the lower 2 meters reinforced with bulletproof steel plates and rubber, and the upper 8 meters composed of wood, ensuring effective blockage of stray projectiles.
The design was inspired by the U.S. 8th Army’s Camp Humphreys shooting range, with a unique all-direction enclosure. This includes bulletproof ceiling panels extending 50 meters from the firing line, and 7.2-meter-high side walls. The range also features additional 10-meter-high frontal walls at 70, 100, 150, and 200 meters to ensure comprehensive safety.
Furthermore, the shooting range boasts environmentally friendly features, like a system for reducing shooting noise to under 40db at 400 meters and a facility for the complete recovery of bullets, thereby minimizing the risk of environmental pollution from lead and heavy metals. These innovations underscore the Army’s commitment to coexistence with local communities.
The design was inspired by the U.S. 8th Army’s Camp Humphreys shooting range. (Image courtesy of ROKA)
Additionally, the facility is equipped with a lighting system allowing all-weather, day and night training, and a ‘Bullet Impact Targeting System’ for real-time monitoring and immediate correction of shooting accuracy, significantly enhancing the effectiveness of training exercises.
In his remarks, General Park emphasized the importance of the new facility, particularly in the current security context. He noted the Army’s long-standing efforts to improve the safety and environmental aspects of traditional shooting ranges through specialized design and advanced technology.
The Army plans to open the new state-of-the-art range for regional training, allowing nearby units and institutions to conduct exercises regardless of the time or weather. Furthermore, by 2035, the Army aims to transform a total of 86 shooting ranges into barrier wall structure ranges, thereby creating safe and realistic training environments for its soldiers.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
