A police officer’s wife who was stopped at airport security for carrying live ammunition in her handbag has said that she “found them (bullets) in the mountains 10 years ago,” according to the Busan police Thursday.

The 45-year-old police officer surnamed Park was traveling with his wife to Cebu, Philippines, when he was stopped at Gimhae Airport security check as ammunition was found in his wife’s bag. 

The rusted bullet was for a 38-caliber revolver. It had no serial number.

The police determined Park had no intention of carrying out a terror attack and allowed his family to leave for Philippines, forewarning an investigation once he returns from the trip.

The promised investigation took place on Wednesday as soon as the couple returned.

The police suspect the ammunition may belong to Park.

However, Park said he believed his wife found the bullet in the small hill behind the apartment the couple lived in 10 years ago. She had kept the single bullet in the drawer of her vanity table.

Park guessed the bullet must have accidentally fallen into his wife’s purse as she was packing for the overseas trip.

One of the policemen involved in the investigation said, “Although Park’s report is unconvincing there is no way to prove it otherwise” because the bullet was missing its serial number. 

Following Park’s testimony, only his wife will be booked under the charge of illegal possession of ammunition.

According to Korean law, possession of live ammunition is punishable even if the act was by negligence.

The police station where Park is stationed is running a regulatory check on him on the side.

By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com)