South Korea launches new military security unit after counterintelligence command disbanded

By Kim Seung-yeon

SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- The defense ministry on Monday launched a new security support unit to oversee internal military security, as part of a sweeping overhaul following the disbandment of its counterintelligence unit long dogged by criticism over its political influence.

The new body is one of the three new agencies being established under the reform plan, after the ministry decided to disperse and transfer the core functions of the Defense Counterintelligence Command (DCC) to new and existing agencies.

The ministry unveiled the reform plans in early June to dismantle the DCC, marking the command's dissolution 49 years after its establishment.

The new security support agency will be responsible for handling internal military security affairs, including security-related audits for corps-level units or larger formations and investigation into security breaches, the ministry said.

The agency is expected to enhance objectivity and fairness of defense security duties, further elevating the military's overall security posture by working to prevent security incidents, it said in a release.

The DCC has often been criticized for wielding excessive powers through its unique intelligence-gathering roles and undergone a series of reform efforts under previous administrations.

Its involvement in Yoon's failed martial law imposition on Dec. 3, 2024, has reignited calls for reform.

Besides the new security support agency, the reform plans call for creating a new counterintelligence headquarters within the ministry focusing on intelligence related to North Korea and protecting classified information in the defense industry.

A separate investigative unit will be also launched to handle crimes threatening national security, such as espionage, treason and cybersecurity threats.