Lee Min-hyung joined The Korea Times in 2014 and has worked as a journalist mainly in Korea’s finance, tech and automotive industry. He specializes in content creation, breaking news and in-depth analysis currently on transportation and mobility. You can reach him via mhlee@koreatimes.co.kr.
Military intelligence unit vows to abide by law
By Lee Min-hyung
Emblem for Defense Security Support Command
By Lee Min-hyung
The Defense Security Support Command (DSSC) vowed Tuesday not to carry out any illegal and non-defense-related activities, months after its predecessor was disbanded in the wake of its involvement in political scandals.
The replacement military intelligence unit ― headed by Lieutenant General Nam Young-sin ― started operations Sept. 1, after President Moon Jae-in ordered a complete overhaul of its scandal-ridden precursor.
“The DSSC will establish itself as a trusted military intelligence and investigative organization,” Nam said. “It is time for us to live up to the public's expectation by standing at the center of national security and wiping out past disgraces.”
After conducting the months-long reorganization, the DSSC also unveiled its new emblem and military anthem, as part of symbolic efforts to start military intelligence work from scratch.
In particular, the DSSC underlined the need not to repeat the fiascos of its predecessor by unveiling a “not-to-do” list which includes political interference, illegal surveillance of civilians and a sense of entitlement. The DSSC pledged to harshly punish those who violate any rules.
The key reason behind the disbandment of the former intelligence unit was due to a contingency plan its leaders drew up to deal with candlelit protestors who were urging then-President Park Geun-hye to step down.
This made headlines after a military document specifying the plan was unveiled this year. Under the document, the military planned to declare martial law in February last year and conduct an armed crackdown on protestors if the Constitutional Court rejected the impeachment of the scandal-tainted former President Park.
This led President Moon to dissolve the former unit in August. At that time, he called for the need to establish a new organization to stop the military intelligence unit from abusing its authority.
The DSSC was established against this backdrop with 2,900 officers and staff in September.
The new intelligence unit also pledged to fulfill its anti-terrorism role.
“With a growing number of acts of terrorism occurring across the world, Korea is also not free from possible threats,” a DSSC official said.
“One of our major roles includes anti-terrorism activity. For example, we carried out a joint anti-terrorism mission with the National Intelligence Service and police during the International Fleet Review on the nation's southern resort island of Jeju in October.”
“By teaming up with military and civilian sectors, we will continue to fulfill our responsibility by carrying out such counter-terrorism acts for the safety of the armed forces and the public,” he said.