The South Korean government has decided to disband the Military Intelligence Command (MIC), which played a key role during the December 3 martial law, and redistribute its main functions to various agencies. After 49 years, the MIC will cease to exist.
On June 10, Minister of National Defense An Gyu-baek announced the disbandment and restructuring plan for the MIC during a briefing at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan, Seoul. He stated, "The restructuring of the MIC is not merely an organizational change or functional adjustment; it will serve as a historic turning point in building a military that does not interfere in politics, ensuring it is a 'military of the people.'"
The Ministry of National Defense plans to dismantle the MIC and distribute its counterintelligence, security, and security investigation functions. According to the restructuring plan, functions related to power agency activities, such as trend analysis, personnel intelligence, and illegal information gathering, will be abolished.
The ministry will establish a new 'Defense Counterintelligence Headquarters' to handle defense-related intelligence activities and cybersecurity. Additionally, a 'Defense Security Support Unit' will be created to conduct security audits and investigate security incidents at the corps level and above. The security investigation functions and joint investigation authority during martial law will be transferred to the 'Defense Investigation Headquarters.'
The Ministry of National Defense plans to strengthen the internal oversight functions of the newly established Defense Counterintelligence Headquarters to prevent the agency from becoming politicized. An external senior audit official will be appointed to the position of head of the oversight office. A dedicated organization will be created within the ministry to enhance command and supervision over counterintelligence, intelligence, and security agencies.
Furthermore, a 'Compliance Monitoring Committee' composed of civilian experts will be established under the direct supervision of the minister to enhance external oversight. Basic guidelines for counterintelligence activities will be established, with regular reports to the National Assembly and additional reports on major tasks upon request from the Assembly's standing committees.
The ministry is also pushing for the enactment of the 'Law on the Performance of Duties by Military Counterintelligence Personnel,' which will specify the scope of counterintelligence activities and penalties for illegal actions.
To break away from the MIC's closed and authoritative organizational culture, the ministry will exclude individuals involved in the December 3 martial law and various misconducts, selecting personnel based on strict verification to ensure political neutrality and job competency. In areas such as cybersecurity and defense industry positions, military professionals will be selected and assigned appropriately. The MIC's closed personnel management system will be integrated into a common system across the military to enhance transparency and fairness in personnel operations.
Minister An stated, "The disbandment of the MIC and the restructuring of its functions is a solemn promise that the military will focus solely on the Constitution and the people, fulfilling its original mission. The Ministry of National Defense will reflect on the painful historical lessons of the past and build a counterintelligence organization and system suitable for a new era."
The Ministry of National Defense plans to proceed with preparations for the establishment based on this restructuring plan. The Defense Counterintelligence Headquarters and the Defense Security Support Unit are expected to be established by the end of July, following the completion of related unit orders and amendments.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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