Looks like a gun that would just be called "Assault Rifle" in a game from the 2000s.

ROK Marine corp armorer here. 1. The selector is SAFE-SEMI-AUTO-BURST. The 3 shot burst doesn't reset like M16 series' 2. The charging handle is not compatible with K1 despite looking similar. Both can be used as a flathead screwdriver 3. The right side of the sight dial is BDC setting. Left dial is windage and top dial is elevation. 4. The groove in the bolt for the blade ejector renders one of its locking lugs quite fragile. I think plunger ejectors are superior. 5. You can stick your fingertip behind bolt hold lever and pry on it to lock the bold open 6. Shooting with the stock folded is one of the standard shooting stances for the navy(I heard) in tight quarters like ships' corridors 7. One gas setting is for disassembly. I haven't heard of gas cutoff feature or rifle granade usage. There's K201(M203 copy) instead. 8. Heat shielding within handguard is crucial because of gas vent from the cylinder. Adoption of full metal 1913 handguard resulted overheating issue of the handguard 9. Lack of dust cover is sometimes problematic, especial on the charging handle slot where dirt can enter 10. K1 and K2 lowers have same dimensions and interchangeable. This feature is not utilized in any way in the millitary 11. Top of the front sight hood has a tritium vial and this is used in conjunction with folding rear aperture as night sights. The folding night rear sights has no glowing feature and I think this is stupid. 12. Both K1 and K2 accept M16 bayonets 13. K2 rifles are drilled and tapped for optics or 1913 rails 14. The recoil spring assembly can shoot out and into the shooter's eye(!) when the rifle is inadvertently disassembled

Trivias: - When K2 was first issued in SK soldiers were a bit shorter. Nowadays more-than-a-few men(including me) find the gun fits not so good. (M16A1 fits better for me) - K2C1, which is an improved and currently issuing version, could've had folding front sight. But Daewoo management wasn't willing to do something that SK gov't didn't really ask for. - One of K2 prototypes had skeletal style folding stock. It is said that they cancelled it to make it cheaper. - Few people loves its charging handle. - There was a guy who put the gun's barrel in a washing machine to "clean" the K2 rifle just days before discharge. He ended up in detention instead of home.

"hey I need a Kei truck to transport pottery too and from my shop" Daewoo: "I gotchu fam" "Oh I also need a compact rifle chambered in 5.56 so I can defend my truck" Daewoo: "You're not gonna believe this"

I remember doing a lot of joint training with the ROK Army when I served in South Korea. Every time we went to the field, our ROK sister units went too. I enjoyed training with them. They were friendly and very competent (they knew their stuff). A lot of South Koreans speak English so it wasn’t a problem. We trained with each other’s weapons quite frequently. They liked our M-4’s better. We used to eat at their field kitchens and they would eat at ours just to break up the monotony of eating the same types of food over and over. Fun times...

A lot of people forget in what a bad shape the South was back in the mid-20th century, decades of Japanese rule where what little industrialization was up in the North, followed by the privations of WW2 and then the devastation of the Korean War. It's really incredible how to think just how much progress has been made there in a single person's lifetime.

8:08 K2는 볼트를 드라이버로 분리하지 않습니다. 장전 손잡이로 분해해야 제맛입니다.

i love how there is a MG-42 & an M60 just casually hanging out in the background

The gas port of the K2 is notorious for being lost in the field, it's become an infamous legend of its own in the ROK military culture.

That is overseas versions of k2. Original Korean Millitary spec K2 have 4 fire mode. Safe - semi auto - 3 bursts - auto. And gas port have 4 different mode because of korean weather. In summer,south korean weather is over 38'c. Also in winter, temperatures is under -25'c. So because of weather problem, we can handle gas pressure. --------------sorry! It's -32'c was lowest temperature of south korea. But we must do operation in North korea some day... North korean lowest temperature was -51'c. And also the K2 and K1's firing pins are really similar. So if you exchange there two firing pins, K1A will immediately fire bullet even with small touch without pull trigger.

"Are you an AK guy or an AR guy?" K2 owners: Yes

During my service at Korean navy I used both M16A1 and K2. First rifle was m16 which felt pretty long and accurate. Funny thing about my m16 was that only the upper receiver was Korean made and all the other parts were from Colt. So it had that Colt's horse engraving which was pretty cool. To draw a comparison between M16 and K2 is first the overall length. K2 was designed for average Korean male height so most of boys felt comfortable handling the rifle. M16 wasn't. It felt quite long. For accuracy, both rifle was pretty good. I had no problem hitting targets about 200m away with both gun with their ironsights. Although the m16's zeroing was always messed up after few shots due to its old age. Military K2 also has folding stock so it was much comfortable when carried with strap. I believe the weight of m16a1 and k2 is similar but the m16a1 felt a bit heavier than k2 since k2's weight is focused to the side of my body while m16a1's long length was not. I also had a chance to touch the unloaded K1A1 submachine gun. It had that huge compensator and collapsable stock. Huge muzzle flash during the night, very loud and cool.

"You'd want more than a million rifles too" - Yup! - "If your neighbor was North Korea" - Oh yea, that too.

tips from ROK ARMY firearm repairer sergeant - if you want zero this gun, elevation setting need to be set to 2.5 it means set to 250m we uses 25m zeroing target - gas port(or gas regulator) means S: extreme hot weather environment over 45ºC M: normal weather environment L: extreme cold weather environment under 20ºC, 0: when using rifle grenade(that we didn't adopt) - when unfold stock, push to under the gun and unfold it as same as it folded. if you forces to unfold it, stock's rotation shaft will vent and stock will start to wobbling in folded position - the rifling thread of this gun are similar with M16A2 as logistic reason. works perfectly with SS109 round

When I first go into AR style rifles almost 20 years ago, a local shop had a Daewoo D2 for sale, like new in box (I don't think it was ever fired) $600. I didnt know anything about them amd I was afraid getting parts would be difficult, and I was really looking for an AR15. I kick myself everytime I see one of the these rifles, so thanks for that

As a sidenote on the South Korean M16A1 production being limited by the Colt license, ROK Army units deployed to Vietnam to assist the US helped build up the M16A1 stockpile back home. ROK troops in Vietnam were equipped and supplied by the US, which included M16A1 rifles; ROK units claimed to have accidentally "lost" or "misplaced" a number of their issued M16A1, which the US duly replaced. In the meantime, those "lost" rifles were smuggled back to South Korea to help build up the number of stockpile past the license limit; a few times, the smuggled rifles were placed inside coffins containing fallen ROK soldiers to avoid being caught by American inspectors who were becoming suspicious of all the lost M16A1 upper and lower assemblies. it might not have been the most honest way to beef up their national security, but South Korea had to do what they could during the hard times.

I'm enlisted in April 27 and previewing with this video. I feel miserable but K2's coldwar style outlook is still gorgeous to me.

AR-15 style bolt with a long-stroke gas piston and folding stock. Reminds me of the Stoner 63.

Used to be able to buy these in Canada as the MAXII in the mid 80's they were going for $650 CAD but became a casualty of the first assault weapon purge after the École Polytechnique shooting on 6 Dec 1989.

Ah this brings me back so many memories I served as ROK Army Mountain Division Recon although the rifle I mainly used was the later version K2C1, but I remember using K2 in bootcamp

The Koreans also perfected that Colt grey anodizing of these rifles.

There's something very beautiful about the machining on the locking lug for the folding stock. Often folding stocks have attachment mechanisms that give me the willies, but that one is just incredible. I'm in love.

This really is a beautiful piece of optimization; Daewoo went above and beyond.

There are actually 2 production patterns of this rifle. The version here is the later (standard) pattern still in use. The earlier pattern like mine (rollmarked as "K2" instead of "AR-100" or "MAXII") has a 1/12" twist barrel (later re-used on the DR-200 postban imports), the piston and carrier are pinned together and do not come apart (and the rear of the piston is finished in the same way as the carrier) and will not fit in the later upper receivers. The earlier upper has some different machining on the rear sight tower on the left side, and the range markings are "1.2/3/4/5" instead of "2.5/4/5/6". Likewise the machining on the barrel where it meets the gas block is a bit different, and the optics mounting holes are slightly uneven (requiring a shim or spacer to properly mount a rail/optic). The recoil spring takedown pushpin doesn't have the little locking gizmo either.

We had a young Korean temporary employee last year. We started talking about rifles and such and he had me google the K2. It was pretty neat. (I think in Korea military service is compulsory.)

We still using that rifle... the newest version is K2C1. Add some rail system to K2.

Woohoo! A Daewoo video! I've actually been waiting for a video covering the DP-51.

I would love to see an updated version of the design come into the market. Strengthen the receiver and charging handle, throw in rails, make it able to mount on a standard AR lower, bam.

Just woke up to this. AWESOME.

So it's just enough AK that Colt can't complain, and just enough AR that the Russians can't complain

I have been waiting for this for a LONG time. Very unrecognizable to most, yet a finely made rifle. SoKor sure makes fine hardware

I used k1, k2, k5 handgun during my army service, 1994~1999. I used k1 as an anti terror purpose, k2 as an assult one. Both riffles were excellently working and easy to handle. It was easier than m16 in setting my sights on. K1,k2 was well fitted to my body and eyes..

'Ah.. that'll be the Daewoo'. (the strap line of Daewoo car TV adverts in UK)

THe guns in the background has to be the holy trinity of 20th Century machine guns.

Man, Daewoo really does make everything

Imagine going into battle with a Daewoo,the same manufacturer of the not-too-oft-seen Daewoo death trap subcompact car...

We have been looking forwards for this rifle

A friend bought one of these back in the late 80s. It was a joy to shoot. Thanks for posting.

Loved Korea. They are quietly good people.

Back in 1996, I saw an advertisement for the Daewoo DR200, the post assault rifle ban import with the thumbhole stock. It was under $300 and I fell in love with the AR-AK hybrid. First pay check I bought it along with the factory scope rail. After, I added the Stock Options folding stock and finished it with a Thermold magazine. To this day, it is as fun to shoot as my Mini 14. I should have bought a few of them....The good ol' days.

This Daewoo K2 will go perfect with my Daewoo fridge. :)

Oh awesome, I always look forward to your videos covering Asian weapons. I wish you could do more, from China, North/South Korea, Japan (especially WW2), Vietnam because they're more obscure in the West

M-16: Would you please, at least let me talk to my daughter? Ak-47: Okay, five minutes.... K2: *HEY DAD...*

Just in case for the people who are interested.. 1. In actual service rifle, there are safe - semi - auto - burst mode. you can rotate the selector 360 degrees in both direction. 2. The gas port problem of the K2 has been fixed in around 2000. 3. Charging handle in 7:38 can be used to remove handguard and cotter pin in 9:48. 4. When we got bored, we mixed K1A's upper reciever and K2's lower reciever+stock and called it K1.5. I have never tried shooting that hybrid tho. 5. K1A's firing pin is slightly longer than K2's, so if you accidently use K1A's firing pin in K2, rifle will be automatically fired right after you load the gun.

it was my rifle during my service. I miss it so much

Historical Fact: The development of K2 was started under the leadership of President Park Chung-hee after the Nixon Doctrine the policy of defence of Asians by Asians themselves and his new plan & policy of self-defence since the change of the international situation.

Being of Korean nationality and having been in the USMC, I love when you do videos on Korean guns. I'm REALLY looking forward to the day you have an opportunity to get your hands on a Daewoo K11, if that day ever comes.

There is a micro tritium tube inserted on top of the iron sight for the night ops. But when I had shooting drills, I couldn't see a shit. Nowadays, the brand new K2C1 which comes with the Picatinny rail is replacing good old K2. It took more than a decade for the MFWIC to understand the importance of gun accessories.

We had 9mm Daewoo K5 semi auto pistols in Papua New Guinea, seemed rugged and well built.

My son-in-law had a Daewoo automobile. Like you said, a big company!

Ex South Korean soldier here: Yeah, it's fun to shoot. Too bad we always had to attatch a small bag next to the ejection port to collect all the empty cartridges. :P For those who don't know, there is a K-2C1 which is a tactical version with a verticle grip and mounting rails, a K201 that has a grenade launcher. The K-2C1 was heavier than my stock K-2 , but you were able to get better marks thanks to the verticle grip.

Thank you Ian for your time and efforts in making your videos! Always very interesting and educational!

If you look objectively, Daewoo was ahead of the times. Many of the features on this rifle are now the tacticool standard today, side folder, piston, adjustable gas system, shorty variant, etc. If they had continued civilian commercial variant modernization, they would be right in the middle of the marketplace today.

is there something that daewoo doesn't make? they make cars, tv's, sewing machines, naval ships and so on...

9:49 The Cotter pin was so fragile that when I went on a shooting exercise, many people broke down and had a lot of difficulties.

Probably my favorite rifle ever. Wish a modern k2 with a flattop and freefloat handguard was on the market.

hey Ian. can I put korean Subtitles in This video? I already put Subtitles on some of your video. I want put Subtitles In this video too.

Used to fire t his baby during military service. Not bad, but not good enough to call it successor of M16 (in Korea). Plus, its lower trigger body is exchangeable through K-1 to K-3.

"This is very much a hybrid of AK and AR" *Gestures at a gun that looks like a black Galil*

I'll never look a Daewoo car the same again.

I've handled and shot the import version of this rifle as a kid in the 80's. I don't remember much except the folding stock would pinch the hell out of your hand if you weren't careful. Was owned by an uncle who probably had no business owning any rifle. I recall him "80s hip firing" a lot. I remember it being called "the korean rifle" and thought it odd. LIttle did I know i'd end up being stationed there in the mid 90's, right after the first Kim died in the DPRK. I think it's the K1 version I saw the most of, usually in the hands of gate guards. As an aside, Daewoo, at least while I was there, made EVERYTHING under the sun. From Cars, to front end loaders, to appliances, and firearms. I thought it odd how one company delved into so many different markets, my assumption was a local monopoly. Daewoo and Samsung, I think were the big two. I don't know about now. Haven't set foot in the land of the morning calm since the late very 90s.

Here she is, every Korean dude's raifu

A little fix here: XB1 prototype was based off the Model B 1974 prototype rifle, which was chambered in 7.62mm. It was because before 1973, 5.56mm NATO ammunition were only dependent from United States at the time. But later on after '73, 풍산그룹 (Poongsan Group) started producing 5.56mm Ammunition for the ROK army. So from then XB2 to XB5 prototypes were made in M16A1-esque parts and were designed to chamber in 5.56mm NATO. XB6 was the variation of XB5 that used 7.62mm NATO.

South Korea's K1 and K2 do not require tools such as screwdrivers. You can use the metal tip of the loading handle like a screwdriver. You can use it to remove the lower receiver fixing pin, remove the hand guard, separate the mounting screw for the scope, as well as tighten the tensioning screw on the folding stock. Of course, the K201 (this is the same type of grenade launcher as the M203) can be detached, the hand guard can be replaced, and the arc sight can be detached with only the loaded handle. Engineers received opinions from veterans who fought in the Vietnam War and used the M16 given by the U.S. military when designing the K-series, who thought it was efficient not to need extra tools to disassemble and inspect firearms in the field.

I have to return some video tapes. I'll take the Daewoo.

The Brown Suomi. Only a specific subset of people will get that one-

Omg my service weapon! I miss that gun. They are still in use by the way

I had used both k2 and m16a1. K2 was nice, easy to carry. M16 is main firearm of reserve army, so many of m16 isn't in good condition. But m16 was quite comfortable for shoot because of the buffer, i think.

USA: So you want some M16s South Korean: Yes USA: how many do you need? South Korean: all USA: Sorry no can do South Korean: Fine Builds K2

Daewoo making guns is a part of government contract given by SK and also a part of its products. Pretty much major East Asian corporations diversify their businesses. In Japan Mitsubishi not just making cars but also run financial business, construction, electronics, making MBTs, build fighter jets, missiles, even submarines.

A friend of mine owned one of these back in the late 80's/early 90's. I absolutely LOVED the thing. Actually tried to buy it off him several times, but he waited until a year or so after I had moved away before he finally did sell it. Still wish I had managed to get it from him: with that rail mounting capability, it would have easily taken a modern optic, and would still be a perfectly serviceable practical rifle.

Stockpile of a million rifles. Immediately the brain starts seeing the ammo stash.

As someone with Korean origins living in Europe I was looking to try to import one in my country and I end up seeing this video. Nice timing and great video. I hope that one day there will be a video on the select fire version ! Also kinda funny to see that the handguard retaining system looks like it took some inspiration on the one used on some of the most produced G3 variants.

The Rifle of choice of Rooftop Koreans, isn’t it?

Really wish we could get a variant of this back in the United States.

Three best gun channels on YT: Forgotten Weapons, Paul Harrel, Hickock45. Forgotten Weapons speaks to my love of history and innovation, Paul Harrel speaks to reality of guns, and Hickock45 lives the dream of having a backyard range and sponsors letting him shoot so many different guns. Keep on keepin on, this channel is badass

been looking forward to this , the best rifle nobody knows about :)

OK, another cool gun that I have never seen before. Originally, I thought it was going to be a real clunker POS gun. However, it looks like it was very well thought out and well made. I learned something; thank you for the video!

Seriously Ian, you are the best. Your videos are entertaining and packed with information. I am jealous of the amount of weapons that you get to see and play with. Best KZfaq channel ever. It's like meditation for me.

Just one thing Ian, K2's charging handle is design to break easily on purpose to prevent reusing the rifle by enemy.

I remember seeing these advertised in Shotgun News back in the late 1980’s. They really got overlooked then because there were so many other choices (AR15, HK93, FNC, Galil, etc.).

I started watching this and the rooftops started speaking korean.

I’ve always wonder why nobody had never made a great hybrid between the two platforms, until now, cool.

These are really fantastic rifles. I got to handle a few in South Korea with the ROK officers. They are reliable, built like a tank, and incredibly simple to boot. It would be great if someone could domestically reproduce these in the States or make a creatively altered "upper" that could go on a tubeless AR lower.

I literally can't describe how glad I am that I bought mine last month lmao. I know the price is just going to blow up after this video lol. Good work Ian.

The idea of the rail mounting seems pretty forward thinking for the 80s does anyone know if it was actually used?

Sir, you forgot to mention that this rifle has a 1 in 6 barrel twist! A very important feature of this rifle. Larry

I’ve mentioned this on the K1 video, but I’d be interested in seeing something on the K5 pistol (also imported as the DP51 and recently licensed or copied by Lionheart Industries as the LH9 and the Regulus). The unique fast action trigger mechanism would make for a pretty interesting teardown. Also, it’s a unique amalgamation of a S&W 50-something pattern pistol (the mags even interchange), a Beretta 92, and some other guns.

Used to use the k2 all the time early on in combat arms years ago lol.

와 새 제품이다...내가 받았던 건 녹슬어서 매번 탄이 걸렸었는데

When I was in ROK Army, I used K2 rifle as a AA missile operator. K2 rifle's most convenience is folding stock. That is so convenient when I running to AA missile platform in the air defense condition increased. But hand guard is so short that gunners can burn themselves by the barrel.

Very nice overview of this rifle. I’ve had one since the 80s and it’s been flawless. I did lose the gas plug due to my own error, and finding a replacement turned out to be a nightmare. With the various important bans and issues parts became non-existent, save some Arms Machining businesses. The thumbhole versions of the K2 do not use the same plug. Otherwise it’s a pretty accurate rifle and easy to clean.

Rep of Korea also make their own military trucks, APCs and Tanks.

와 케투 이년간쓰면서 저렇게 세워지는지 몰랏음

the m249 SAW and fg-42 in the background: Come play with us, Ian. You'll shoot down here. They all shoot down here, Ian.

The Daewoo K2,one of my favorite weapons now cos it looks like a M4 and Ak style blended together, although it fired a 5.56mm,and like the little brother the K1, same but with the short barrel and extendable stock.

It may not be forgotten, but for sure it is interesting. I would really love to see the Japanese Howa type 64 and 89 here, they look so different from the standard issue weapons worldwide

유투브는 왜 나에게 이걸 추천하는가

I've owned one since the early 90's. Never jams, far more accurate than even the best match grade AR but they cycle much slower.

I became interested in the daewoo when I encountered one at a gunshow. It seemed very nice compared to a lot of the ARs and AKs I've handled. Of the numerous cool guns I saw there, the Daewoo was probably my favorite, unfortunately though, now I want a daewoo