By Jun Ji-hye

An Army sergeant went on the run in Goseong, Gangwon Province, Sunday, after killing five soldiers and wounding eight others.

According to the Ministry of National Defense, the sergeant, identified as Lim, 22, went on a shooting spree at 8:15 p.m., Saturday, after his stint at a GOP (general outpost) on the southern side of the demilitarized zone (DMZ).

Sgt. Lim shot 10 rounds with his K-2 assault rifle at soldiers also on their way back from duty and threw a hand grenade.

Lim, who fled after the rampage, ran away with at least 60 rounds and a grenade.

The casualties and Lim belonged to the 22nd Army Division whose jurisdiction includes the eastern coast bordering the North.

Residents there said they were feeling anxious all day long.

“Civilians were ordered to stay home. The soldiers are scattered all over the place. We are extremely scared when hearing sounds of gun shots,” one resident was quoted as saying.

According to the Army, Lim was categorized as “soldier under close watch” for failing to adjust to life of the unit after being transferred to it last year.

Those killed include one staff sergeant, two corporals, and two PFCs (private first class).

A second lieutenant was shot in the arm during two exchanges of fire with Lim in the mountainous area. He was the eighth to be wounded.

In a briefing, the ministry said that two encounters took place.

Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said that Army search teams were closing in on him.

Lim’s parents were called in to try and persuade Lim to surrender but without success.

The Army called a “Jindo Dog One” to put troops at the highest level of alert in the area.

“We are watching out to prevent him from harming civilians,” said an Army officer. “We are also guarding against his possible crossing into North Korea.”

The military as well as police have set up checkpoints in the area, he said.

“We are doing our utmost to catch him,” said the official, adding that nine battalions were mobilized to pursue Lim.

According to the spokesman Kim, the Army also set up a 48-member investigation team.

Ministry officials said they would be able to figure out the motive of the rampage only after arresting Lim.

They added that the incident has nothing to do with North Korea.

Among the wounded, two were in a serious condition with bullet wounds to the arm and leg, respectively.

They underwent emergency operations in nearby hospitals, authorities said.

The investigation team is inspecting the scene in the presence of the bereaved families, while questioning the injured.

The ministry publicly made an apology.

“We sincerely apologize for causing trouble to the people,” said spokesman Kim. ”We pray that the soldiers who died from this unexpected situation rest in peace and offer our deep condolences to the families of those killed and injured. We will do all we can do to support them,” he said.

Previously, the Eastern front-line Army unit was also embroiled in controversy after the so-called “knock-knock defection” incident that occurred in October 2002 ― the soldiers on duty there were unaware of a North Korean defector until he knocked on the door of the barracks.

Then President Lee Myung-bak had reprimanded the Army for its indiscipline.

The unit was also disgraced 30 years ago when a PFC surnamed Cho killed 15 soldiers and wounded 11 in rampage.

In 1988, a private threw two grenades in the barracks, killing two, while an armed private was arrested eight hours after he went AWOL (Absence Without Leave) in 2004.