The Ministry of National Defense (MND, ) is a department within the government of the
Republic of Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...
(ROK) and responsible for the military branches of South Korea.
History
The Ministry of National Defense was established on 15 August 1948 and located at
Yongsan-dong,
Yongsan District
Yongsan District (, ) is one of the 25 List of districts of Seoul, districts of Seoul, South Korea. It has a population of 231,685 (2020) and has a geographic area of , and is divided into 19 ''Dong (administrative division), dong'' (administrati ...
, Seoul. It was established following the foundation of ROK in 1948, superseding the (DIS, ) in charge of Southern Korean armed forces under the
United States Army Military Government (USAMGIK) during the Allied occupation era.
During
Coup d'état of December Twelfth, ministry was occupied by 1st Airborne Special Forces Brigade commanded by
Park Hee-do. In 2018, the Ministry has agreed to respect the results from its Special Investigation Committee on
Gwangju Uprising in which
MD Helicopters MD 500 and
UH-1H were used to fire on protesting citizens.
The Ministry of National Defense is allegedly active in military-level censorship such as book banning and screening of
mobile app
A mobile application or app is a computer program or software application designed to run on a mobile device such as a smartphone, phone, tablet computer, tablet, or smartwatch, watch. Mobile applications often stand in contrast to desktop appli ...
s within the military hierarchy.
In April 2024, South Korean and the UK navies conducted joint patrols around the Korean Peninsula to enforce UN sanctions against North Korea's nuclear and missile programs. The mission aimed to intercept illicit shipping, following the Downing Street Accord signed by the leaders earlier. Canada and New Zealand also contributed to sanctions enforcement in the region. However, challenges arose, with Russia vetoing a resolution to renew the panel monitoring sanctions enforcement against North Korea.
Agencies
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Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA)
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Military Manpower Administration (MMA)
List of ministers
See also
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Republic of Korea Armed Forces (ROKAF)
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Republic of Korea Army (ROKA)
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Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN)
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Republic of Korea Marine Corps
The Republic of Korea Marine Corps (ROKMC; ), also known as the ROK Marine Corps, ROK Marines or South Korean marines, is the naval infantry of South Korea. The ROKMC is a branch of the Republic of Korea Navy responsible for amphibious operat ...
(ROKMC)
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Republic of Korea Air Force
The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF; ), also known as the ROK Air Force or South Korean Air Force, is the Air force, aerial and Space force, space warfare service branch of South Korea, operating under the Ministry of National Defense (South K ...
(ROKAF)
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Conscription in South Korea
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Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) is the body of the most senior uniformed leaders within the United States Department of Defense, which advises the president of the United States, the secretary of defense, the Homeland Security Council and ...
(ROK JCS)
References
External links
Official website
{{authority control
South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...
Military of South Korea
National Defense
Yongsan District