The incidence of gunshot injuries is much lower in Korea when compared with those of western countries, because one is prohibited from having firearms. But, sporadic cases of gunshot injuries are encountered chiefly in the army and the police.
The range of fire is divided into
1) Contact gunshot wounds
2) Loose contact gunshot wounds
3) Close range gunshot wounds
4) Long range gunshot wounds
accoding to the tissue appearances around the entrance, and these are affected in turn by gas, flame, smoke, gunpowder, bullets, and muzzle.
The major problem in the investigation of gunshot injuries lies in the discrimination of homicide, suicide, and accidents, and the factors that should be considered in the investigation of gunshot injuries include :
1) The scene of death
2) Examination of clothes and hands
3) Location of wounds
4) Range of fire
5) Multiplicity of guns
6) Detection of fire.
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