Pohang: A Marine noncommissioned officer who was found dead from an apparent gunshot wound last week was in charge of managing firearms and ammunition at an amphibious unit on the southeastern coast, the Marine Corps said Thursday. The officer, who held the rank of sergeant first class, was discovered with a gunshot wound at a housing unit for Marine Corps officers in Pohang, approximately 270 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on August 3.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the late officer had secretly taken out one K1 rifle and 10 rounds of live ammunition without the unit knowing they were gone for at least three days before his death. Reports indicate that he had taken out two K1 rifles from a weapons depot with the intention to exchange their gunstocks, but failed to return one of them, instead taking it home sometime between July 29-31.

The Marine Corps unit in charge did not notice the firearms were missing, which has raised questions about the adequacy of daily armory inspections and the overall management of firearms. In response to the incident, the Marine Corps has mandated an inspection of firearms and ammunition across all units and is examining the conditions of its troops.

Additionally, the armed service is conducting an audit into the amphibious unit involved, as well as the 1st Marine Division, following a series of recent incidents. This includes an event where a soldier left his unit without authorization last week and was captured four hours later.