Police then opened fire — marking the first and only use of live ammunition by law enforcement in Korea between January and August of this year. They can prevent situations from escalating to the point where live ammunition is needed in advance,” the officer said. They may also face lawsuits for damages.”Experts agree that discharging live ammunition carries a significant psychological and professional burden for police officers. “After firing live ammunition, officers may have to file reports on their actions, and a review panel may be convened to judge whether it was appropriate,” Kim said. Lim Joon-tae, a police administration professor at Dongguk University, said the courts could help ease the burden on officers over the use of live ammunition.