Military-civilian advisory committee on defense reform sets sail

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, left, meets with Hong Hyun-ik, chair of a special advisory committee tasked with drawing up defense reform measures at the Ministry of National Defense building in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of the Ministry of National Defense

A military-civilian special advisory committee was launched Tuesday to draw up a blueprint for defense reform under the Lee Jae Myung government, the defense ministry said.

The ministerial advisory body, which is also tasked with proposing measures to overcome the botched martial law bid last year, held its first meeting earlier in the day, it said.

"By operating a civilian-led ministerial advisory body, the defense ministry will seek to reflect the public's opinion on defense policy tasks," the ministry said.

Also set to top the agenda for the committee are drawing up policy measures on reducing fatal accidents within the military, restructuring its counterintelligence and security systems, and reforming military academies.

The committee plans to submit to the minister its outcome on the discussions by the end of the year.