A South Korean air force KF-16 takes off from Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, Aug. 27, 2019. (Stefan Alvarez/U.S. Air Force)

Two South Korean air force unit commanders have been removed from their posts and charged with negligence in connection with an accidental bombing that injured 52 people last month, according to the Ministry of National Defense.

South Korean Criminal Investigation Command on Monday charged the two officers for inadequately supervising the KF-16 pilots who accidentally dropped eight MK-82 free-fall bombs March 6 outside of a training area in Pocheon city, a ministry spokesman said by phone Wednesday.

Of the 52 injured, 38 were civilians, Yonhap News reported Monday.

The training area is approximately 20 miles south of the border with North Korea.

Two pilots were charged with negligence a week after the bombing.

The unit commanders did not take adequate precautions ahead of the live-fire training exercise, which led the pilots to input incorrect bombing coordinates into their equipment, the spokesman said.

South Korean government officials customarily speak to the media on condition of anonymity.

The accidental bombing prompted the military to impose a 12-day pause on using live-ammunition during training. That restriction was lifted March 18, amid the Freedom Shield joint exercise between U.S. and South Korean forces.

Other live-ammunition mishaps have occurred in Pocheon, where U.S. troops frequently train at the 3,390-acre Rodriguez Live Fire Complex.

In November 2023, a 5.56 mm bullet fired by Eighth Army soldiers strayed outside of the range and struck a moving car. The driver was not injured and the firing lane used by the soldiers was permanently closed.

Six years earlier, a .50-caliber round fired by U.S. soldiers flew outside the range before hitting a home.