The Lee Jae-myung administration will hold its first major joint-fire exercise, with South Korea’s primary combat forces participating. On May 6, the Defense Ministry said the 2026 Joint Fire Exercise will take place over three days — May 18, 21 and 26 — at the Seungjin firing range in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province.
The ministry described the drill as the first joint fires exercise since the inauguration of the People’s Sovereignty government. Officials said it was organized to demonstrate the armed forces’ readiness and their ability to execute joint operations amid a heightened security environment.
The exercise will showcase live-fire and maneuver drills by South Korea’s advanced joint forces, and the Air Force aerobatic team, the Black Eagles, will perform a demonstration flight.
An equipment viewing area will let the public inspect and experience core K-defense platforms and newly fielded weapon systems.
The Defense Ministry said it will recruit a civilian observer group from May 6 through May 10.
Organizers plan to select roughly 400 observers for each of the three sessions, about 1,200 people in total. Interested applicants can apply through the Defense Ministry’s official website and its social media channels.
The live-fire demonstrations featuring the military’s principal forces began in 1977; this will be the 13th edition.
The ministry said the event, held on the first anniversary of the People’s Sovereignty government, is intended to demonstrate a commitment to self-reliant defense grounded in independent capabilities and joint interoperability. It added that the drill will highlight the operational performance of technologically advanced joint forces as the military advances as the “people’s military.”
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