Korea is arming police officers nationwide with "low-risk" handguns next year as they increase after a series of knife rampages and similar senseless crimes in public.
Some 50,000 police officers on the beat will be provided with the guns, starting with 5,700 next year.
Currently, about 44 percent of local police officers are equipped with .38 caliber revolvers.
Unlike conventional handguns that often kill suspects even when the officer does not intend it, low-risk handguns use rubber bullets, so the impact is only about 10 percent that of conventional firearms.
There has been criticism of police that they are too reluctant to use their guns even in dramatic standoffs for fear of possible misuse.
