Audit finds military helicopter mistakenly entered DMZ during wildfire operation

A South Korean military helicopter mistakenly crossed the Military Demarcation Line during wildfire operations in Yeoncheon earlier this year, according to an audit cited Monday. The Army Surion helicopter entered the buffer zone on March 23 while carrying two pilots and firefighting near the 5th Infantry Division. It reportedly crossed into the 25th Infantry Division inside the DMZ without U.N. Command approval and stayed there for a while. The military later issued warnings and a caution over the incident.

The helicopter entered the buffer zone on March 23 in Yeoncheon, about 60 kilometers north of Seoul.

The aircraft was an Army Surion helicopter carrying two pilots and was deployed for wildfire suppression at the 5th Infantry Division.

The audit said the helicopter entered the 25th Infantry Division inside the DMZ without approval from the U.N. Command.

The Army's Ground Operations Command and front-line corps were unaware of the crossing at the time and learned of it later from the Air Force's master control and reporting center.

The military issued warnings to the I Corps and V Corps and a caution to the Ground Operations Command after the incident.

Published Sep 21, 2026 4:06 pm KST

An Army Surion helicopter flies in the air during the Combined Joint Live-Fire Exercise at the Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, May 28. Joint Press Corps

A South Korean military helicopter mistakenly crossed the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) during wildfire operations in a border area earlier this year, a lawmaker said Monday, citing the outcome of an audit.

The Army Surion helicopter mistakenly entered the buffer zone on March 23 in the border county of Yeoncheon, some 60 kilometers north of Seoul, according to audit results submitted to Rep. Kang Sun-young of the main opposition People Power Party.

The helicopter, carrying two pilots, was deployed to put out wildfires at the 5th Infantry Division, but it mistakenly entered the nearby 25th Infantry Division inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), according to the audit by the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

The Surion chopper entered the DMZ without approval from the U.N. Command, which oversees operations inside the heavily fortified area. It reportedly crossed to the northern side of the MDL and continued firefighting operations there for a while.

The Army's Ground Operations Command and front-line corps in charge of flight control were not aware of the MDL crossing at the time. They were later informed of the incident by the Air Force's master control and reporting center.

The military has since taken administrative action over the incident, issuing warnings to the I Corps and V Corps and a caution to the Ground Operations Command.

据周一公布的一份审计报告显示，今年早些时候，一架韩国军用直升机在延川地区执行野火灭火任务时，误越了军事分界线。这架陆军“苏里翁”直升机于3月23日载有两名飞行员，在第五步兵师附近执行灭火任务时，进入了缓冲区。据报道，该直升机未经联合国军司令部批准，越过了非军事区内的第二十五步兵师控制区，并在那里停留了一段时间。军方随后就此事发布了警告和告诫。

3月23日，这架直升机从首尔以北约60公里的延川进入缓冲区。

这架飞机是一架陆军苏里昂直升机，载有两名飞行员，部署在第五步兵师执行野火扑救任务。

审计报告称，这架直升机未经联合国军司令部批准，进入了非军事区内的第25步兵师。

当时陆军地面作战司令部和前线部队并不知道有渡河点，后来才从空军主控和报告中心得知此事。

事件发生后，军方向第一军和第五军发出警告，并向地面作战司令部发出告诫。

发布于2026年9月21日下午4:06（韩国标准时间）

5月28日，在京畿道抱川市承津射击训练场举行的联合实弹演习中，一架陆军“苏里翁”直升机在空中飞行。（联合新闻社）

一名国会议员周一表示，根据审计结果，今年早些时候，一架韩国军用直升机在边境地区执行野火扑救任务时，误越了军事分界线（MDL）。

根据提交给主要反对党国民力量党议员姜善英的审计结果显示，3月23日，陆军的“苏里翁”直升机误入了首尔以北约60公里的边境郡县涟川的缓冲区。

根据参谋长联席会议 (JCS) 的审计，这架载有两名飞行员的直升机被部署到第 5 步兵师扑灭野火，但错误地进入了非军事区 (DMZ) 内附近的第 25 步兵师。

这架“苏里翁”直升机未经联合国军司令部批准进入非军事区，而联合国军司令部负责监督该重兵把守区域内的行动。据报道，它越过军事分界线北侧，并在那里继续执行了一段时间的灭火任务。

当时，陆军地面作战司令部和负责飞行管制的部队并不知晓此次越界事件。他们后来才从空军主控和报告中心获悉此事。

军方已就此事采取行政措施，向第一军和第五军发出警告，并向地面作战司令部发出告诫。