Presidential Security Service updates committee rules after defense reorganization

The Presidential Security Service said Tuesday it amended a presidential decree to align its safety committee structure with a broader reorganization of national defense agencies. The revision replaces references to the dissolved Defense Counterintelligence Command with designations for two newly established entities that have assumed its former functions.

Under the updated Presidential Security and Safety Countermeasures Committee Regulation, the committee will now include one senior officer from the Defense Counterintelligence Headquarters and one field-grade officer from the Defense Security Support Group. Previously, the panel relied on a single designated member from the abolished command. The Ministry of National Defense stated the restructuring aims to disperse counterintelligence, investigative and security duties among specialized organizations as part of a government initiative.

The change takes effect July 31, coinciding with the official establishment of the Defense Counterintelligence Headquarters and the Defense Security Support Group. The new headquarters will manage counter-espionage, defense industry-related information activities and cyber security operations, while the support group assumes responsibility for internal security audits and accident investigations within the military. The ministry also plans to enact the '(tentative) Military Counterintelligence Unit Member's Duty Performance Act' by the end of 2026 to define counterintelligence scopes and penalties for illegal activities.