Life-Saving Bulletproof Helmet.
Despite issues found during the inspection, it was not recalled by the military.
It has been revealed that bulletproof helmets, already flagged as substandard, are still used in military units.
On the 29th, SBS reported on the poor quality of these bulletproof helmets.
In 2021, the Army signed a contract with a company to manufacture and purchase ‘lightweight bulletproof helmets’ for 4.3 billion won (approximately $3.6 million).
In an audit released last August by the Board of Audit and Inspection, it was revealed that the Army Headquarters had contracted in a manner that involved receiving the supply first and inspecting it later in order not to leave any budget unused.
However, there were problems with the later inspection.
An official from the Army Logistics Command did not retest despite noticing that the finished product’s measurements were missing. Instead, they falsely recorded the prototype’s measurements on the test report.
The Board of Audit and Inspection sent a sample to a U.S. testing and certification agency for inspection during the audit, and it was revealed that the helmet’s impact absorption did not meet the military’s required performance.
Despite this, the military did not immediately recall the approximately 4,100 helmets, and they are still being used in special forces and counter-terrorism units.
The Army Logistics Command stated, “We will request the company to supply replacements or take punitive measures based on the results of our defect judgment,” thus delaying the recall of the helmets.
An Gyu-back, a member of the National Defense Committee from the Democratic Party, pointed out, “Bulletproof helmets are equipment directly linked to life. We must ensure that soldiers wear proper equipment as soon as possible.”
The Logistics Command official who falsely recorded the measurements was requested by the Board of Audit and Inspection to be disciplined. Still, they have objected and are currently under review.
The company that supplied the helmets rebutted, “There were no problems when we supplied the helmets in 2021.”
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