South Korea's Defense Security Support Command starts operations

In other news,... after months of efforts to revamp South Korea's embattled military intel command,... South Korea has launched a new and improved version,... dubbed the "Defense Security Support Command."
With its predecessor disbanded due to its shady and illicit behavior,... the new organization has made winning back the public's trust its number one priority.
Our Park Ji-won has more.
The launch ceremony of the Defense Security Support Command was held on Saturday at the headquarters of the intel command in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi-do Province.
Speaking at the ceremony,... Lieutenant General Nam Young-sin,.. the commander of the new intel body said all members of the command will try to win back the public's trust.

"All members should do their best to clearly understand the scope of their missions,... by discerning the things that have to be done, and the things that should never be done. By doing that, the command can regain public trust and recognition as a necessary, professional military body."

The new command will be under the direct control of the defense ministry.
Defense minister Song Young-moo, in his address at the ceremony,.. stressed the new military intel body should deeply reflect on wrongdoings and commit itself to serving the country.

"The authority given to the command should be used justly for the people, with a fear of the people in mind to serve them. Members need to shed their sense of entitlement, respect troops' human rights, and devote themselves to fulfill their duties of serving the country. That's the path of honor for yourselves and for the military."

The new intel command will be operated by about 29-hundred members,.. a roughly 30 percent decrease from its predecessor.
Members involved in the previous command's alleged illicit acts, including the illegal surveillance of civilians, the manipulation of online commentaries, and the drawing up of documents for the imposition of martial law,... were removed from the new command structure.
In order to prevent such illegal acts happening again, the command's ministerial ordinances state the members' obligation to stay politically neutral, the prohibition of monitoring civilians and the prohibition of abuses or misuses of authority.
The ordinances also include clauses providing grounds for formal objections,... regarding orders that go against those principles.
Park Ji-won, Arirang News.