Top Headlines

Feeds

South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu‑back Orders Drone Probe and Intelligence Overhaul

Updated (4 articles)

Minister Ahn Announces Comprehensive Intelligence Reform At a Jan. 21, 2026 policy briefing, Defense Minister Ahn Gyu‑back pressed the Defense Intelligence Command, Defense Counterintelligence Command and Criminal Investigation Command to enact sweeping reforms aimed at restoring public trust and severing the counter‑intelligence arm from its controversial past [1].

Counterintelligence Command Under Investigation for 2024 Martial Law Attempt The Defense Counterintelligence Command is suspected of facilitating the former administration’s Dec. 3, 2024 martial‑law decree, with its ex‑commander on trial for deploying troops to the National Assembly and Election Commission and for detaining roughly ten senior politicians, including leaders of both ruling and opposition parties and the Assembly speaker [1].

Advisory Panel Recommends Disbanding Counterintelligence Unit Earlier in January, a special advisory committee urged the dissolution of the Counterintelligence Command, a move that would end its 49‑year history and form a core component of the proposed reform blueprint [1].

Safeguards Proposed to Prevent Political Abuse of Defense Intelligence Ahn called for concrete safeguards to ensure the Defense Intelligence Command cannot be repurposed as a political instrument, emphasizing reforms that would block future misuse of intelligence capabilities [1].

Drone Incursion Allegations Prompt New Joint Investigation The minister tasked Brig. Gen. Park Jung‑hun, acting director of the Counterintelligence Command, with a thorough probe of North Korea’s drone‑incursion accusations; a joint military‑police investigation has begun despite Seoul’s denial of involvement [1].

Sources

Timeline

1977 – The Defense Counterintelligence Command (DCC) is created as a military intelligence and security unit, beginning a 49‑year history of broad investigative and counterintelligence powers within the South Korean armed forces. [3][4]

Dec 3, 2024 – Former President Yoon Suk‑yeol issues a decree to impose martial law; the DCC allegedly deploys troops to the National Assembly and the National Election Commission and prepares to detain about ten senior politicians, including party leaders and the Assembly speaker, actions that later trigger a constitutional crisis. [1][2][3][4]

Late 2024 – The martial law attempt collapses within hours, exposing the DCC’s operational role; the former DCC commander faces trial for ordering the troop deployments, and public outcry demands accountability for the unit’s political misuse. [1][2][3][4]

2025 – The defense ministry removes senior leaders of the DCC, Defense Intelligence Command, and Capital Defense Command as part of a broader purge aimed at restoring civilian oversight after the failed martial law bid. [4]

Early Jan 2026 – A special advisory committee submits a reform blueprint recommending the complete dissolution of the DCC, arguing that its 49‑year legacy must end to prevent future political manipulation of military intelligence. [1]

Jan 8, 2026 – The defense ministry announces a phased plan to dismantle the DCC, transfer its investigative and security‑audit functions to existing ministry bodies, and create a new Defense Security Intelligence Agency focused on counterintelligence, counterterrorism, and arms‑industry intelligence; officials target completion before the end of 2026. [2][3][4]

Jan 21, 2026 – Defense Minister Ahn Gyu‑back presses for sweeping reforms of the Defense Intelligence Command and the DCC, calls for safeguards to keep intelligence agencies from becoming political tools, and orders Brig. Gen. Park Jung‑hun to lead an impartial probe of North Korean drone‑incursion allegations. [1]

By end of 2026 (planned) – The ministry intends to finalize the “constructive dismantling” of the DCC, fully operationalize the new Defense Security Intelligence Agency, and establish a cooperative information‑sharing body to prevent capability gaps during the transition. [2][3][4]

All related articles (4 articles)