Daewoo K2
- Category
- Assault Rifle
- Barrel
- 465 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.26 kg
- Introduced
- 1984
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Daewoo K2 is a select-fire assault rifle chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO, produced by SNT Motiv (formerly Daewoo Precision Industries) since 1984. This South Korean-manufactured firearm reflects the engineering traditions and quality standards of its country of origin, designed to meet the demands of both civilian and professional users in a competitive global marketplace. Featuring a 30-round magazine capacity, this assault rifle offers generous firepower for duty use and home defense. The 18.3-inch barrel maximizes accuracy potential and ballistic performance, making this an excellent choice for target shooting, competition, or field use. At 3260g (115.0 oz), this is a substantial firearm whose weight contributes to reduced felt recoil and enhanced stability during precision shooting. The aluminum alloy frame achieves a notable weight reduction compared to all-steel construction while maintaining the structural rigidity required for safe, reliable operation. This firearm represents its manufacturer's commitment to delivering a well-engineered, reliable product that serves the needs of discerning shooters seeking quality, accuracy, and dependable performance from a proven platform.
The K2 was born from South Korea's determination to develop indigenous defense capabilities following the traumatic experience of the Korean War and ongoing tensions with North Korea. Its development in the late 1970s coincided with President Park Chung-hee's drive for military self-sufficiency. The rifle's distinctive hybrid design, borrowing the best features from both Western and Eastern firearms traditions, reflects South Korea's unique geopolitical position between the two Cold War blocs.
The K2's gas system is often described as a hybrid of the AK-47 and AR-18 designs, using a long-stroke gas piston that is more reliable in adverse conditions than the M16's direct impingement system. The rifle was developed as part of South Korea's push for defense industry self-sufficiency during the Cold War. The K2C1 modernized variant began replacing the original K2 in 2015, featuring Picatinny rails and improved ergonomics. A civilian export version, the Daewoo DR-200, was briefly sold in the United States before import restrictions. North Korea has reportedly produced unlicensed copies of the K2 for its special forces.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- S&T Motiv (formerly Daewoo Precision Industries)
- Category
- Assault Rifle
- Country
- South Korea
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 1984
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 465 mm
- Overall length
- 970 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.26 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 3.86 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Gas operated long stroke
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Single stage
- Capacity
- 30
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Aluminum alloy
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Polymer
- Finish
- Phosphate
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 920 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 1693 J
- Effective range
- 600 m
- Maximum range
- 2400 m
- Rate of fire
- 800 rpm
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Folding stock
Select fire
Three round burst
Chrome lined barrel
Rotating bolt
Gas regulator
Bayonet lug- Bipod attachment
Stanag compatible magazines
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 158 5.56x45mm NATO assault rifles | 3.26 kg | 3.60 kg | Lighter than about 80% |
| Overall lengthAmong 156 5.56x45mm NATO assault rifles | 970 mm | 920 mm | Longer than about 70% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 157 5.56x45mm NATO assault rifles | 465 mm | 449 mm | Longer than about 70% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 158 5.56x45mm NATO assault rifles | 30 | 30 | Near the median |
Answers
Questions about the Daewoo K2
How much does the Daewoo K2 weigh?
The Daewoo K2 weighs 3.26 kg (7.19 lb) empty and 3.86 kg (8.51 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the Daewoo K2?
The Daewoo K2 is chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO.
How many rounds does the Daewoo K2 hold?
The Daewoo K2 holds 30 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the Daewoo K2?
The Daewoo K2 is 970 mm (38.2 in) long overall, with a 465 mm (18.3 in) barrel.
Who makes the Daewoo K2?
The Daewoo K2 is made by S&T Motiv (formerly Daewoo Precision Industries) (South Korea). It was designed by Agency for Defense Development (ADD).
When was the Daewoo K2 introduced?
The Daewoo K2 was introduced in 1984.
How does the Daewoo K2 operate?
The Daewoo K2 uses a gas operated long stroke action, and its firing mechanism is hammer fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- Republic of Korea Armed Forces
- 1984
- Republic of Korea Marine Corps
- 1984
- Nigerian Armed Forces
- 1985
- Peruvian Naval Infantry
- Peru
- Fiji Military Forces
- Fiji
- Bangladesh Armed Forces
- Bangladesh
- Indonesian National Armed Forces
- Indonesia
- Lebanese Armed Forces
- Lebanon
- Senegalese Armed Forces
- 2003
- Nepalese Army
- 2022
Provenance
Confidence in this record
85%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/daewoo-k2' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "daewoo-k2", "name": "Daewoo K2", "manufacturer": { "id": "snt-motiv", "name": "S&T Motiv (formerly Daewoo Precision Industries)", "countryCode": "KR", "foundedYear": 1981, "website": "https://www.sntmotiv.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:38", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:43:46", "version": "9db0b6bd86b8c9a1e686c470d1c6a21f813dddaec277f9be6ca224566aa0099d" }, "category": { "id": "assault-rifle", "name": "Assault Rifle", "description": "Selective-fire rifles chambered in intermediate cartridges" }, "country_of_origin": "KR", "year_introduced": 1984, "barrel_length_mm": 465, "weight_empty_g": 3260, "action_type": "gas_operated_long_stroke"}