Daewoo Precision Industries K1

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 submachine gun must acquire 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.

File:South Korean K1 carbine No.1 0.jpg

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.

File:ROKMC Marine with K1A SMG.jpg

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 submachine guns 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.{{Cite web |url=https://www.sadefensejournal.com/wp/?p=4670 |title=Show Report: DX Korea 2018 |access-date=2019-02-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212131152/https://www.sadefensejournal.com/wp/?p=4670 |archive-date=2019-02-12 |url-status=dead }}

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.

Most of the time, K1 submachine gun is regarded as a shortened or carbine version of Daewoo Precision Industries K2 assault rifle. However, although the two guns 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.riflesnguns.com/assault/daewoo/k1|title=Daewoo K1|publisher=Rifles n Guns|accessdate=2008-10-30|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014044646/http://www.riflesnguns.com/assault/daewoo/k1|archivedate=2008-10-14}}
• 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.

File:Daewoo K1A SMG at Defense Asia 2006 0.jpg

• 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.

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 {{cvt|11.5|in|abbr=on}} barrel and weighs approximately {{cvt|3|kg|abbr=on}}. 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.[https://www.armyrecognition.com/june_2020_news_defense_global_security_army_industry/south_korea_special_forces_selects_dasan_machineries_dsar-15p_as_future_assault_rifle.html South Korea Special Forces select Dasan Machineries DSAR15P as future assault rifle]. Army Recognition. 16 June 2020.[https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2020/06/18/south-korea-selects-dsar-15pc-carbine-for-rokas-special-warfare-command/ South Korea Selects DSAR-15PC Carbine for RoKA’s Special Warfare Command]. The Firearm Blog. 18 June 2020. However, on 14 July 2021, the acquisition was cancelled following a leak of military secrets by a company executive.{{Cite web |last=김 |first=형준 |title=[단독]'기밀유출' 특수작전용 기관단총 결국 개발 중단 |url=https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/079/0003527850?sid=001 |access-date=2024-02-04 |website=n.news.naver.com |language=ko}}

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.[https://sadefensejournal.com/show-report-adex-2023/ Show Report: ADEX 2023]. Small Arms Defense Journal. 11 December 2023.{{Cite web |title=SNT Motiv |url=http://sntmotiv.com/ |access-date=2024-02-04 |website=sntmotiv.com |language=en}} Deployment of the K13 began in February 2024. However, reports soon emerged of cartridge explosions during live fire exercises, though no injuries were reported.{{Cite web |title=신형 K-13 기관단총 '사격중 탄환 폭발' 잇따라 발생…인명피해는 없어 |url=https://news.kbs.co.kr/news/pc/view/view.do?ncd=7918611 |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=KBS 뉴스 |language=ko}}

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).{{Cite web |date=2025-02-13 |title=특수작전용 기관단총 1형 사업 재개, '최저가' 경쟁 돌입 |url=https://www.bizhankook.com/bk/article/29067 |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=비즈한국 |language=ko}} 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.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DsEaPvRl2M |title=SNT Motiv의 신제품 총기들을 살펴보다: KADEX 2024 SNT Motiv: KADEX 2024 |date=2024-10-06 |last=플래툰 매거진 Platoon Magazine |access-date=2025-04-13 |via=YouTube}} Dasan Machineries is also participating with its DSAR-15PQ, equipped with a quick-change barrel.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0Cz3ay9css |title=[방산톡톡] 해외에서 더 인정받는 K-소총의 새로운 미래 DSAR-15PQ 침수사격, 머드 침수사격 영상포함 [국방홍보원] |date=2024-01-29 |last=KFN뉴스 |access-date=2025-04-13 |via=YouTube}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9Xelop5-jE |title=다산기공의 신제품 총기들을 살펴보다: KADEX 2024 DASAN Machineries: KADEX 2024 |date=2024-10-09 |last=플래툰 매거진 Platoon Magazine |access-date=2025-04-13 |via=YouTube}}

• File:Indonesian Air Force Military Police NCOs.jpg{{flag|Cambodia}}: Used by Special Forces Command (Cambodia){{cite web|url=http://bemil.chosun.com/nbrd/bbs/view.html?b_bbs_id=10044&num=207608|title=캄보디아 군대가 도입한 한국제군장비|publisher=}} 137 K1As sold.{{cite web |url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/S-Trade-Update/SAS-Trade-Update-2019.pdf |title=Archived copy |website=www.smallarmssurvey.org |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211191444/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/S-Trade-Update/SAS-Trade-Update-2019.pdf |archive-date=11 December 2019 |url-status=dead}}
• {{flag|Indonesia}}: Seen in use by the Indonesian Air Force{{Cite web |last=OSINT |first=JAT |date=11 July 2024 |title=Indonesian Air Force #TNIAU Military Police NCOs armed with 🇰🇷 Daewoo K1 carbines during their recent inauguration ceremony process in Yogyakarta |url=https://twitter.com/Jatosint/status/1811224252168929394 |access-date=30 July 2024 |website=X (formerly Twitter)}}
• {{flag|Republic of Korea}}: Standard-issued submachine gun of the ROK Armed Forces. Will be partially replaced by the STC16/K13 carbine.[https://sadefensejournal.com/snt-motiv-presents-k13-carbine-at-seoul-adex-2023/ SNT Motiv Presents K13 Carbine at Seoul ADEX 2023]. Small Arms Defense Journal. 13 October 2023
• {{flag|Papua New Guinea}}{{cite web|url=http://news.mk.co.kr/newsRead.php?year=2014&no=1454840|title=[S&T모티브] 국군 소총 국산화 이어 중동·중남미 등 수출도|date=23 November 2014 |publisher=}}
• {{flag|Senegal}}: Received 280 K1A rifles in 2003.{{cite web |url=http://article.joinsmsn.com/news/article/article.asp?ctg=12&Total_ID=195149 |title=ID No. 195149 |accessdate=2012-11-30 |url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130127131701/http://article.joinsmsn.com/news/article/article.asp?ctg=12&Total_ID=195149 |archivedate=2013-01-27 }}
• {{flag|Singapore}}: 855 K1As sold to Singapore from a SIPRI small arms report in 2019.

• M3 submachine gun: used prior to and replaced by K1A
• Daewoo Precision Industries K2: related development
• Daewoo Precision Industries K7: 9×19 Parabellum submachine gun with permanent silencer based on K1A
• S&T Motiv K2C: proposed replacement, rejected after field test
• S&T Motiv STC16: will partially replace K1A, designated K13
• Dasan Machineries DSAR-15: initially selected winner for replacement of K1A by ROKASWC, later rejected

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Daewoo K1}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100130124539/http://www.sntdaewoo.com/st/en_main.htm S&T Daewoo Homepage]

{{Modern South Korean Infantry Weapons}}

Category:5.56 mm assault rifles

Category:5.56×45mm NATO assault rifles

Category:Assault rifles of South Korea

Category:Post–Cold War weapons of South Korea

Category:Daewoo assault rifles

Category:Carbines

Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1980s

Category:ADD research and development projects