Aug. 3 (Asia Today) — South Korea formally dissolved its Defense Counterintelligence Command after 49 years and divided its counterintelligence, military security and national security investigation duties among three organizations.

The Defense Counterintelligence Headquarters, Defense Security Support Group and Security Investigation Group under the Defense Ministry’s Criminal Investigation Command will separately handle functions previously concentrated in the former command.

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said at a launch ceremony for the new counterintelligence headquarters in Gwacheon, south of Seoul, that the reorganization was intended to break with the military intelligence agency’s history of political involvement.

“What we are leaving behind today is the dark legacy of a counterintelligence organization that strayed from its original mission and became a tool of political power,” Ahn said. “We must eliminate the roots of these harmful practices with a determination to fundamentally reform ourselves.”

Ahn said the ministry abolished functions that allowed the organization to accumulate political influence and redesigned it as a professional body focused on its core responsibilities.

He emphasized transparency, professionalism and the restoration of public trust.

The ministry described the restructuring as part of a government initiative to address the former command’s role in the illegal Dec. 3 martial law declaration and reform it into a democratically controlled organization.

The Defense Counterintelligence Headquarters will respond to intelligence operations targeting the South Korean military by North Korea and foreign intelligence agencies, as well as terrorism threats.

It will also work to prevent military secrets from being leaked and provide counterintelligence support for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of U.S. Navy vessels and other major strategic assets.

In the cyber sector, the headquarters will focus on establishing the Korean Risk Management Framework across the military and countering cybersecurity threats.

The newly established Security Investigation Group will take over investigations of espionage, military secret leaks, activities benefiting an enemy and other national security crimes.

It plans to use digital forensics and other advanced investigative methods in cooperation with the Cyber Forensic Investigation Group.

The Defense Security Support Group will oversee military security operations, including central security audits of corps-level and larger units and investigations of security breaches.

Separating military security from counterintelligence operations is intended to improve the objectivity and fairness of both functions.

The ministry also plans to reorganize its investigative review, inspection and legal offices and establish a national security investigation department at its investigative training institute.

Maj. Gen. Pyun Moo-sam, the final acting commander of the former Defense Counterintelligence Command and the first head of the new headquarters, acknowledged the organization’s past failures.

“Our counterintelligence organization disappointed the public by performing duties that went beyond its proper role,” Pyun said.

“We must abandon any sense of privilege and eliminate all conduct that infringes on the human rights and fundamental rights of the people.”

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

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