President Lee calls rifle report 'fabrication-based political attack'

President Lee Jae-myung has strongly refuted a media report that questioned the rifle he used during a recent military visit, labeling it a "political attack based on fabrication."

The controversy centers on a report by Chosun Ilbo, which claimed that the K2C1 rifle, equipped with an optical sight and target designator, that President Lee fired during his visit to Yeonpyeong Unit on June 24, is unfamiliar to the majority of active soldiers. The report cited data from the Ministry of National Defense provided to a parliamentary committee.

However, OhmyNews, citing Ministry of National Defense explanations, countered that all infantry combat personnel at Yeonpyeong Unit are equipped with the K2C1. The Ministry of National Defense spokesperson, Jeong Bit-na, also stated on X (formerly Twitter) that the Yeonpyeong Unit's infantry combat personnel all use the K2C1 rifle.

Jeong further explained that approximately 170,000 K2C1 rifles are currently in operation in key border and frontline units, with plans for further deployment across the Army, Navy, and Air Force based on mission priorities. She asserted that the report's framing of President Lee firing a rifle "soldiers have never seen" was a clear distortion. Jeong also added that efforts are underway to maintain the usability of older K2 rifles nearing their service life through regular inspections and maintenance, and that various aiming devices are being supplied to ensure mission readiness before the full-scale deployment of the K2C1.