On January 26, 2024, the Korean government held an inauguration ceremony for the Public-Private Counterterrorism Innovation Task Force (TF) at the Government Complex Seoul, presided over by Yoon Chang-ryul, Chief of the Office for Government Policy Coordination. This TF was established to mark the 10th anniversary of the Anti-Terrorism Act and the National Counterterrorism Committee, aiming to fundamentally review and improve the nation’s counterterrorism system. With the rapid evolution of terrorism, including the use of AI, drones, and cyber technologies, the need for a comprehensive overhaul of existing counterterrorism measures has become increasingly urgent. The government is now seeking to address these challenges through a collaborative TF involving both civilian experts and related agencies.
The TF is co-chaired by Lee Man-jong, President of the Korean Association for Terrorism Studies, and Park Won-ho, Head of the Counterterrorism Center. It is organized into three subcommittees: legal and regulatory affairs, counterterrorism expertise, and organization and budget. The TF comprises about 30 members, including 20 civilian experts and officials from the National Intelligence Service, police, and military. Key agenda items include redefining terrorism, systematizing investigation procedures, protecting human rights during counterterrorism operations, overhauling organizational structures, and strengthening international cooperation.
Yoon Chang-ryul emphasized at the ceremony that now is the time to rigorously assess whether Korea’s counterterrorism system can adequately respond to current and future threats. He stressed that the TF is not a formality but a body that will fundamentally review what works and what does not in the field. He also pledged to swiftly implement actionable tasks and responsibly pursue institutional reforms. Co-chair Lee Man-jong highlighted the importance of breaking down barriers between agencies and using this opportunity to enhance public safety through genuine cooperation.
Based on the TF’s discussions, the government plans to promptly implement feasible measures and gradually pursue legal and institutional reforms through deliberation and resolution by the National Counterterrorism Committee. Even after the TF concludes, the government will continue to monitor the progress of each task to ensure the establishment of an effective national counterterrorism system. This TF launch represents a new model of public-private cooperation and is expected to influence future counterterrorism policies, including enhanced international collaboration and human rights protection.
The launch of this public-private Counterterrorism Innovation TF marks a significant shift from a government-centric approach to one that leverages civilian expertise and inter-agency collaboration. As terrorism evolves with new technologies like AI and cyber tools, flexible and adaptive legal and organizational frameworks are essential. By integrating human rights protection and international cooperation, Korea is positioning itself to enhance its counterterrorism capabilities and set a precedent for holistic security governance.