Defense Minister Ahn Kyu-baek Announces Disbandment of Defense Security Command

The Ministry of National Defense announced on the 10th a restructuring plan to disband the Defense Security Command and transfer its core functions to other agencies, heralding a new beginning for the military's intelligence apparatus.

Under this restructuring plan, the Defense Security Command's counter-intelligence functions will be transferred to the Defense Counter-Intelligence Headquarters, its security and audit functions to the Defense Security Support Group, and its security investigation functions to the Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters.

Conversely, functions related to trend monitoring, personnel information, reputation gathering, and the collection of intelligence on military personnel misconduct and corruption will be abolished. The personnel of the Defense Security Command are expected to be reduced from approximately 3,000 to around 1,000.