Authorities closed a segment of the Central Inland Expressway on Thursday after a shell-shaped object was discovered on the highway shoulder [1].
The incident triggered a massive security response, including the deployment of a military bomb-disposal unit, as officials initially feared the object was a live explosive [1, 2].
Local police and government officials shut down a 16-kilometer stretch of the highway between the Changnyeong and Hyunpung interchanges [1]. The closure began around 1:50 p.m. local time and lasted approximately one hour and 30 minutes [1].
Traffic came to a complete standstill as the military team inspected the object, which measured 60 centimeters in length [1]. The object was later identified as a non-explosive dummy projectile, known as a "mo-ui-tan" [1, 2].
Witnesses described the sudden halt in traffic as military and police units arrived to secure the area. "Explosives were found, so the military unit is responding, and they said they have to completely block the road for a while," Kang Jun said [2].
Once the bomb-disposal unit confirmed the projectile was harmless, officials reopened the highway to drivers [1]. No injuries or one-off damages were reported during the shutdown [1, 2].
“The object was later identified as a non-explosive dummy projectile”
This incident highlights the strict safety protocols maintained by South Korean authorities when dealing with potential ordnance. Because of the region's security climate, any object resembling military ammunition is treated as a high-level threat until proven otherwise, necessitating significant infrastructure disruptions to ensure public safety.
