SEOUL — Nearly 2,500 cases of banned items, including live ammunition and Tasers, have been detected in carry-on baggage during security checks at South Korean airports over the past four and a half years, according to recent data.
According to Yonhap News Agency, The Korea Airports Corp., which manages 14 international and domestic airports, and the Incheon International Airport Corp., the operator of South Korea's main airport, reported a total of 2,485 cases of prohibited items from January 2020 to June 2024. The data, submitted to the National Assembly, highlights security challenges and the ongoing efforts to maintain safety protocols.
Incheon International Airport, located west of Seoul, accounted for more than half of these detections, with 1,378 cases. Gimpo International Airport, in western Seoul, reported 684 cases. Prohibited items typically include Tasers, firearms, sharp objects, and explosives, which are strictly banned on aircraft due to their potential security risks.
The data also revealed a significant increase in the detection of live ammunition at Incheon International Airport, rising from 106 cases in 2020 to 311 in 2022, with 205 incidents reported in just the first half of this year. Overall, live ammunition constituted 65.2 percent of all prohibited items found at the airport during the reviewed period.
Additionally, a total of 1,352 cases involving other banned items such as tools, scissors, and liquids were reported across the 15 airports, indicating a persistent issue with passengers attempting to carry restricted items through airport security.