Infantry Weapons

K2 assault rifle

Also known as
  • Daewoo K2
  • K2 rifle

The K2 is South Korea's 5.56 mm service rifle, developed by Daewoo and later carried into SNT Motiv's small-arms line. Adopted in 1984, it became the standard rifle for nearly all Republic of Korea troops and later spawned K2A, K2C, and K2C1 upgrades. ARS also documents export to Nigeria, and Jamestown shows the rifle in ISWAP media from the Lake Chad conflict.

K2 assault rifle, 5.56 mm assault rifle, Infantry Weapons
Image source: Daewoo K2 rifle 1.jpg

Role in Conflicts

2009 Boko Haram Insurgency
Role in conflict
Insurgent small arms

ISWAP media analyzed in 2021 showed Daewoo K2 rifles among militant weapons, and the source said many such guns were stolen from Nigerian and Chadian forces.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
South Korea
Type
5.56 mm assault rifle
Service note
1980s-present service rifle, documented in Lake Chad conflict media by 2021
Designer
South Korean defense industry
Designed
1970s-1984 development period
Produced
1980s-present K-series production lineage
Number built
Hundreds of thousands

Specifications

Caliber
5.56 x 45 mm
Operation
Gas-operated rotating bolt with long-stroke piston
Overall length
980 mm, or 730 mm with stock folded
Barrel length
465 mm
Weight
About 3.26 kg unloaded
Feed
30-round detachable STANAG-pattern box magazine
Rate of fire
About 800 rounds per minute
Variants
  • K2
  • K2A
  • K2C
  • K2C1
Ammunition

The K2 is chambered for standard 5.56 mm rifle ammunition and uses a detachable box magazine.

AmmunitionAmmunition typeFiring evidence
5.56x45mm NATO cartridge, 5.56x45mm NATO small-arms cartridge, Munitions5.56x45mm NATO cartridgeStandard service cartridge

ARS lists the K2 as a 5.56 x 45 mm rifle with a 30-round detachable box magazine.

Sources: South Korean Daewoo K2 Rifle in Nigeria

Timeline

K2 assault rifle Key Events

  1. Adopted for service

    The National Interest says the K2 was adopted for service in 1984 and assigned to nearly all Republic of Korea troops.

    Sources: Staring Down Kim: South Korea's Daewoo K2 Rifle is Ready for War

  2. K2A modernization begins

    The National Interest says S&T Motiv began upgrading the rifle in the early 2000s and procured new K2A rifles with flat-top receivers and Picatinny rails.

    Sources: Staring Down Kim: South Korea's Daewoo K2 Rifle is Ready for War

  3. K2C carbine introduced

    Small Arms Defense Journal says S&T Motiv introduced the K2C in 2012 as a shortened export carbine with a flat-top upper receiver and four-way rail handguard.

    Sources: K2C: South Korea's Latest Carbine

  4. K2C1 enters domestic service

    Aju Press says the K2C1 was introduced in 2016, with an adjustable stock and easier optics mounting, and later became a main domestic weapon.

    Sources: South Korea's K2 Rifle Moves From Standard-Issue Weapon to Export Product

  5. ISWAP media shows K2 rifles

    Jamestown's 2021 analysis of ISWAP media noted Daewoo K2 assault rifles among militants' weapons and said many were recovered from Nigerian and Chadian forces.

    Sources: Islamic State Province's Media in Africa: Comparing Trends in West and Central Africa

Variant Lineage

The K2 family changed through practical modernization rather than a single replacement program: a flat-top K2A, a shorter export-focused K2C, and the K2C1 upgrade for domestic service.

VariantDocumented changeSource
K2Adopted for service in 1984 and assigned to nearly all Republic of Korea troops.Staring Down Kim: South Korea's Daewoo K2 Rifle is Ready for War
K2AFlat-top rifles with Picatinny rails were procured in the early 2000s to support modern accessories.Staring Down Kim: South Korea's Daewoo K2 Rifle is Ready for War
K2CIntroduced in 2012 as a shortened export carbine with a flat-top upper receiver and four-way rail handguard.K2C: South Korea's Latest Carbine
K2C1Introduced in 2016 as an upgraded model with an adjustable stock and easier optics mounting.South Korea's K2 Rifle Moves From Standard-Issue Weapon to Export Product

Sources: Staring Down Kim: South Korea's Daewoo K2 Rifle is Ready for War; K2C: South Korea's Latest Carbine; South Korea's K2 Rifle Moves From Standard-Issue Weapon to Export Product.

Media

K2 assault rifle Images

K2 assault rifle, 5.56 mm assault rifle, Infantry Weapons - view 1
Source: Daewoo K2 rifle early version 1.jpg
K2 assault rifle, 5.56 mm assault rifle, Infantry Weapons - view 2
Source: Daewoo K2 rifle DM-SD-01-05735.jpg
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Sources

Islamic State Province's Media in Africa: Comparing Trends in West and Central AfricaPublisher: Jamestown Foundation | Note: Supports 2009 Boko Haram Insurgency direct-use context: Daewoo K2 assault rifles were fielded by ISWAP militants in photographs and videos from the Nigerian branch, alongside weapons assessed as mostly stolen from Nigerian and Chadian armies. | Accessed: 2026-06-21Staring Down Kim: South Korea's Daewoo K2 Rifle is Ready for WarPublisher: The National Interest | Note: Supports 1984 service adoption, broad Republic of Korea fielding, and the K2A modernization in the early 2000s. | Accessed: 2026-06-27K2C: South Korea's Latest CarbinePublisher: Small Arms Defense Journal | Note: Supports the 2012 K2C introduction and the shortened export-carbine design with rail modernization. | Accessed: 2026-06-27South Korea's K2 Rifle Moves From Standard-Issue Weapon to Export ProductPublisher: Aju Press | Note: Supports the 2016 K2C1 introduction, adjustable stock, optics-ready handguard, and domestic fielding context. | Accessed: 2026-06-27South Korean Daewoo K2 Rifle in NigeriaPublisher: Armament Research Services | Note: Supports K2 technical specifications, Nigerian government purchase background, and likely diversion routes from government ownership. | Accessed: 2026-06-21DefensePublisher: SNT Motiv | Note: Supports current manufacturer background for SNT Motiv's K-series small-arms line. | Accessed: 2026-06-21Daewoo K2 rifle 1.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a Daewoo K2 rifle photographed at the War Memorial of Korea; licensed CC BY 3.0 by Shotgunlee. | Accessed: 2026-06-21Daewoo K2 rifle early version 1.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for an early Daewoo K2 rifle at the War Memorial of Korea; licensed CC BY 3.0 by Shotgunlee. | Accessed: 2026-06-21Daewoo K2 rifle DM-SD-01-05735.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a public-domain U.S. Department of Defense photograph showing a Daewoo K2 rifle. | Accessed: 2026-06-21