Daewoo Precision Industries K1
South Korean selective-fire rifle designated as a submachine gun.
The Daewoo Precision Industries K1 is a South Korean selective-fire assault rifle family. It was developed by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and manufactured by Daewoo Precision Industries (now SNT Motiv), with Dasan Machineries taking over production in 2016. The Republic of Korea Armed Forces adopted it in 1981. Although it is technically a rifle, the Ministry of National Defense classified it as a submachine gun because it replaced the M3 submachine gun.
Development began in 1976 when the ROKA Special Warfare Command requested a replacement for the aging M3. The following year, ADD started a project based on the XB rifle, which had been underway since 1972 to create an indigenous replacement for licensed M16A1s. The new weapon needed greater firepower, light weight, cost effectiveness, and easy access to spare parts. Prototypes appeared in 1980, and after field tests, the weapon entered service in 1981.
Early service revealed serious problems tied to the flash suppressor design. The original version suffered from excessive recoil, noise, flash, and a weak stock due to increased firepower. These issues made aiming difficult, especially at night. A new flash suppressor—featuring three holes in the top right quadrant to reduce muzzle flip during rapid fire and cutting flash to one-third of the earlier model—fixed these shortcomings. This improved version, designated the K1A, entered production in 1982, and all existing K1s were upgraded to K1A standard. The K1A is often paired with the PVS-4K rail integration system from Dong In Optical (DI Optical) and is considered a candidate for the "Warrior Platform," a next-generation infantry project. Since 2014, newly produced and repaired K1A rifles have received barrels suited for 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition. Various RIS systems from DI Optical and MITS have been issued in small numbers, mainly to Special Warfare Command units.
Though the K1 and K2 share a development history, they differ significantly. The K1 was completed earlier. It uses a direct impingement gas system, while the K2 uses an AK-47-style gas piston system. The K1 has a 1-in-12 rifling twist for .223 Remington; the K2 has a 1-in-7.3 twist for 5.56×45mm NATO. A carbine version of the K2, the K2C, was developed and publicly shown by SNT Motiv in 2012.
Variants include: - XK1: experimental prototype.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- South Korea
- Is Ranged
- yes
- Service
- 1981–present
- Wars
- Persian Gulf War / War in Afghanistan / Iraq War · 1992 Los Angeles Riots
- Designer
- Agency for Defense Development / Daewoo Precision Industries
- Design Date
- 1977–1982
- Production Date
- 1980–present
- Number
- 180,000
- Weight
- 2.87 kg / (w/o magazine)
- Length
- 838 mm / (stock extended) · 653 mm / (stock retracted)
- Part Length
- 263 mm (10.4in)
- Cartridge
- .223 Remington / (pre 2014 production) · 5.56×45mm NATO / (post 2014 production)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Development began in 1976 when the Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command requested a replacement for the M3 submachine gun. The ADD launched a project derived from the XB rifle, which had started in 1972 to replace licensed M16A1s with indigenous weapons. Requirements included greater firepower, light weight, cost effectiveness, and easy access to spare parts. First prototypes were made in 1980, and the weapon entered service in 1981 after field tests.
The original K1 exhibited serious problems due to its flash suppressor design: excessive recoil, noise, flash, and a weak stock caused by increased firepower, making aiming difficult especially during night operations. These shortcomings were fixed with a new flash suppressor featuring three holes in the top right quadrant to limit muzzle flip and reduce flash to one-third of the early version. This improved variant, designated K1A, began production in 1982, and all K1s were subsequently modified to K1A standard. The K1A is often mated with the PVS-4K rail integration system by Dong In Optical.
Although the K1 and K2 share development history, they differ significantly. The K1 uses a direct impingement gas system while the K2 uses an AK-47 style gas piston. The K1 has a 1-in-12 rifling twist for .223 Remington, whereas the K2 has a 1-in-7.3 twist for 5.56×45mm NATO. Since 2014, newly produced and repaired K1A received barrels suited for 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition.
Reader's Guide
The K1 holds a unique position as a rifle designated a submachine gun, reflecting its intended role replacing the M3 submachine gun in South Korean service. Its development addressed the specific needs of the Special Warfare Command for a compact, lightweight weapon with greater firepower than the M3. The early problems with recoil, noise, and flash were corrected in the K1A variant, which became the standard. The K1A has been partially replaced by the STC-16/K13/K17 carbine, with a full replacement program ongoing. The weapon has seen export to Cambodia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Senegal, and Singapore. Its legacy includes the K7 silenced submachine gun based on the K1A, and its role as a precursor to the K2 rifle. The K1A remains in service with the ROK Armed Forces, with the K1AC1 variant introduced in 2025 to extend its service life.
Did You Know?
- The K1 was designated a submachine gun by the Ministry of National Defense because it replaced the M3 submachine gun.
- All original K1 rifles were later modified to the K1A standard.
- The K1 uses a direct impingement gas system, unlike the K2 which uses an AK-47 style gas piston.
More in Assault Rifles, Part 2 1-24
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