Daewoo Precision Industries K1
The Daewoo Precision Industries K1 is a family of South Korean selective-fire assault rifles developed by Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and manufactured by Daewoo Precision Industries (now SNT Motiv) and Dasan Machineries (since 2016). It entered service in the Republic of Korea Armed Forces in 1981. Though considered a rifle, the K1 was designated as a submachine gun (기관단총) by the Ministry of National Defense due to the K1 replacing the M3 submachine gun in purpose.
Also recorded as K1 · Daewoo K1
Daewoo Precision Industries K1

shotgunlee · File:Daewoo_K1A_SMG_at_Defense_Asia_2006_0.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Field
- carbine.
- Period
- 1977.
- Region
- South Korea.
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The Daewoo Precision Industries K1 is a family of South Korean selective-fire assault rifles developed by Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and manufactured by Daewoo Precision Industries (now SNT Motiv) and Dasan Machineries (since 2016). It entered service in the Republic of Korea Armed Forces in 1981. Though considered a rifle, the K1 was designated as a submachine gun (기관단총) by the Ministry of National Defense due to the K1 replacing the M3 submachine gun in purpose.
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wikipedia incomplete · checked 25 September 2026
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wikidata · Q483003 · wikipedia · Daewoo Precision Industries K1
In this article
Development
Development
In 1976, the ROKA Special Warfare Command requested a new weapon to replace the old M3 submachine gun. In the following year, ADD launched a project derived from the XB rifle, which started in 1972 to replace licensed M16A1s with indigenous weapons. Under the demands of the ROK-SWC, the new weapon must have greater firepower, light weight, cost effectiveness, and easy access to spare parts. The first prototypes were made in 1980, and entered service in 1981 after series of field test. But due to the design of its flash suppressor, the K1 exhibited serious problems in service with the ROK armed forces. The original version had excessive recoil, noise, flash, and weak stock due to increase in firepower. These problems caused difficulty in aiming especially during night operation. These shortcomings were later fixed by the development and adoption of a new flash suppressor, which has three holes in the top right quadrant to limit muzzle flip under rapid fire and reduces flash to one-third of that of the early K1. This new version of K1 is known as the K1A and its production began in 1982. All K1's in service were subsequently modified to the K1A standard. The K1A is often mated with the PVS-4K rail integration system created by Dong In Optical (DI Optical). It is seen as a potential candidate for the "Warrior Platform", a Korean next-generation infantry project. Since 2014, newly produced and repaired K1A received new barrel suited for firing 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition. Various RIS systems developed by D.I (Dong In) Optical and MITS have been issued in small quantities, primarily to SWC units.
Differences from K2
Differences from K2
Although the K1 and K2 share development history they are very different from each other for the following reasons: The development of K1 was completed earlier than that of K2. The K1 uses the direct impingement gas system, while the K2 uses AK-47 style gas piston system. The K1 has 1-in-12 rifling twist for.223 Remington, while the K2 has 1-in-7.3 rifling twist for 5.56×45mm NATO. The carbine version of K2 named K2C was developed and shown to the public in 2012 by SNT Motiv.
Variants
Variants
XK1: Experimental prototype. K1: First mass-produced variant. Every K1 has been modified to K1A standard. K1A: Second mass-produced enhanced variant. K1A1/MAX-1/AR-110C: Semi-automatic version of K1A for export civilian market with an extended 16" barrel and stock in compliance of barrel and overall length of the National Firearms Act. All variants were marked 5.56×45mm NATO. K1AC1: Variant with a K2C1 5 position stock on a stock adapter. Issue started in 2025, planned to replace all K1A.
Future replacement
Future replacement
The S&T Motiv K2C, a carbine variant of the K2 rifle, was provided to the Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command (ROK-SWC) for evaluation. However, after a series of tests, the K2C was rejected. Subsequently, the ROK Armed Forces initiated a competition to select a new carbine to replace the K1A. The procurement process was divided into two programs: the Special Operations Submachine Gun Type I and Type II. The Type I program aimed to develop a new weapon system for mass deployment across the ROK Armed Forces, while the Type II program was a limited procurement intended to fulfill urgent operational needs of selected units, primarily from the ROK-SWC. On 13 June 2020, the ROK-SWC announced the selection of the Dasan Machineries' DSAR-15PC as the base model for the Type I program. Based on the CAR 816 and other AR-15 platforms, the DSAR-15PC features an 11.5 in (290 mm) barrel and weighs approximately 3 kg (6.6 lb). An initial batch of 1,000 rifles was planned for delivery to gather user feedback, with a total of 15,000 units to be delivered by 2023. However, on 14 July 2021, the acquisition was cancelled following a leak of military secrets by a company executive. In October 2023, SNT Motiv (formerly Daewoo Precision Industries) announced that its STC-16 carbine had been selected under the Type II program. The carbine, designated as the K13, is a 5.56×45mm short-stroke gas-piston system with a free-floating 292 mm barrel, and weighs approximately 3 kg. A total of 1,710 K13 carbines were planned for delivery as a partial replacement for the K1A. Deployment of the K13 began in February 2024. However, reports soon emerged of cartridge explosions during live fire exercises, though no injuries were reported. The Type I program was eventually reinitiated in 2025, with the goal of delivering an additional 16,000 carbines to fully replace the K1A by 2027, at a projected cost of ₩65.483 billion (approximately US$46 million). Expected competitors include SNT Motiv's upgraded variants of the STC-16: the STC-16A1, featuring direct impingement operation, a slimmer upper receiver and handguard, and a forward assist; and the STC-16A2, which retains the short-stroke gas piston operation but incorporates a forward assist. Dasan Machineries is also participating with its DSAR-15PQ, equipped with a quick-change barrel.
Users
Users
Cambodia: Used by Special Forces Command (Cambodia) 137 K1As sold. Indonesia: Used by the Indonesian Air Force. South Korea: Standard-issued submachine gun of the ROK Armed Forces. Will be partially replaced by the STC16/K13/K17 carbine. Papua New Guinea Senegal: Received 280 K1A rifles in 2003. Singapore: 855 K1As sold to Singapore from a SIPRI small arms report in 2019.
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Daewoo Precision Industries K1”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q483003: Daewoo Precision Industries K1
Unverified · Wikidata
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Eger, Chris. Daewoo K1A1: Korea's AR15. Guns.com. December 9, 2020.
- 2.201003140001071.pdf.
- 3.South Korea's DAPA selects DSAR-15PC carbine variant for RoKA's Special Warfare Command. www.janes.com.
- 4.C., Alex. Daewoo K1A1: Korea's AR15. The Firearms Blog. September 22, 2015.
- 5.S&T Daewoo. Business Outline, Defense Business.
- 6.국방일보. <33>기관단총.
- 7.McCollum, Ian. Daewoo K1A1: A Hybrid AR-15 and AR-18 - Forgotten Weapons. www.forgottenweapons.com. 2018-02-14.
- 8.Show Report: DX Korea 2018.
- 9.Rifles n Guns. Daewoo K1.
- 10.국방홍보원. tv.dema.mil.kr.
- 11.South Korea Selects DSAR-15PC Carbine for RoKA’s Special Warfare Command. The Firearm Blog. 18 June 2020.
- 12.김, 형준. [단독]'기밀유출' 특수작전용 기관단총 결국 개발 중단. n.news.naver.com.
- 13.Show Report: ADEX 2023. Small Arms Defense Journal. 11 December 2023.
- 14.SNT Motiv. sntmotiv.com.
- 15.신형 K-13 기관단총 '사격중 탄환 폭발' 잇따라 발생…인명피해는 없어. KBS 뉴스.
- 16.특수작전용 기관단총 1형 사업 재개, '최저가' 경쟁 돌입. 비즈한국. 2025-02-13.
- 17.CHOSUNBIZ. SNT Motiv launches K17 to replace K1A, plans 15,000 deliveries by 2025 in Korea. 2026-07-21.
- 18.Roukoz, Joseph. ADEX 2025 – SNT Motiv K13A1, South Korea’s next-generation assault rifle redefines battlefield versatility. EDR Magazine. 2025-10-21.
- 19.Arthur, Gordon. Sourcing the Best Small Arms From Near and Far. Asian Military Review. 2024-10-15.
- 20.캄보디아 군대가 도입한 한국제군장비.
- 21.Archived copy. www.smallarmssurvey.org.
- 22.SNT Motiv Presents K13 Carbine at Seoul ADEX 2023. Small Arms Defense Journal. 13 October 2023
- 23.K1A Submachine Gun Replaced After 45 Years. SNT Motiv Ships First Mass-Produced K17 Units. The Asia Business Daily. 2026-07-21.
- 24.[S&T모티브] 국군 소총 국산화 이어 중동·중남미 등 수출도. 23 November 2014.
- 25.ID No. 195149.
References
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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