Republic of Korea Defense Criminal Investigation Command

The Republic of Korea Defense Criminal Investigation Command (Korean: 국방부조사본부; English: Criminal Investigation Command, CIC) is a military police organization and the 24-hour military criminal investigation agency directly under the South Korean Ministry of National Defense. Its headquarters is led by a brigadier general. The command traces its origins to the Military Police General Headquarters (헌병총사령부), established on March 24, 1953, in Pildong, Seoul. Over the following decades it was reorganized several times and relocated within Seoul, becoming the Ministry of National Defense Joint Investigation Team (국방부 합동조사대) in 1960, the Ministry of National Defense Investigation Team (국방부 조사대) in 1970, and the Ministry of National Defense Joint Investigation Group (국방부 합동조사단) in 1990. In 2006 it was reorganized as a headquarters-level institution by integrating the military police battalion under the Ministry of National Defense Service Support Group, the Scientific Investigation Research Institute, and the Death Accident Civil Complaint Investigation Team. It opened its new headquarters building in September 2012, launched the National Defense Help Call (1303) on August 1, 2013, and took the Armed Forces Prison under its command on November 21, 2014. An Investigation Education Group was established on January 20, 2023, and a Security Investigation Group and Cyber Scientific Investigation Group were created on August 3, 2026. The command is responsible for investigating military crimes around the clock and operates under the South Korean Ministry of National Defense.

The Republic of Korea Defense Criminal Investigation Command (CIC) was first established on March 24, 1953, in Pildong, Seoul, as the Military Police General Headquarters (헌병총사령부). On October 10, 1960, it was reorganized as the Ministry of National Defense Joint Investigation Team (국방부 합동조사대) in Huam-dong, Yongsan-gu. It moved to Namsan-dong, Jung-gu on January 18, 1963, and to Seobinggo-dong, Yongsan-gu on December 30, 1968. On April 9, 1970, it was reorganized as the Ministry of National Defense Investigation Team (국방부 조사대) at Samgakji, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and moved to Samgakji, Yongsan-gu on December 23, 1970. On December 31, 1990, it was reorganized as the Ministry of National Defense Joint Investigation Group (국방부 합동조사단). On February 14, 2006, it integrated the military police battalion under the Ministry of National Defense Service Support Group, the Scientific Investigation Research Institute, and the Death Accident Civil Complaint Investigation Team, and was reorganized as a headquarters-level institution. In September 2012, the new headquarters building was opened. On August 1, 2013, the National Defense Help Call (1303) was established. On November 21, 2014, the Armed Forces Prison became a subordinate institution. On January 20, 2023, the Investigation Education Group was established. On August 3, 2026, the Security Investigation Group and Cyber Scientific Investigation Group were established.

• 2026

  Established the Security Investigation Group and Cyber Scientific Investigation Group.

• 2023

  Established the Investigation Education Group.

• 2014

  The Armed Forces Prison became a subordinate institution.

• 2013

  Established the National Defense Help Call (1303).

• 2012

  Opened the new headquarters building.

• 2006

  Integrated the military police battalion under the Ministry of National Defense Service Support Group, the Scientific Investigation Research Institute, and the Death Accident Civil Complaint Investigation Team, and reorganized as a headquarters-level institution.

• 1990

  Reorganized as the Ministry of National Defense Joint Investigation Group (국방부 합동조사단).

• 1970

  Reorganized as the Ministry of National Defense Investigation Team (국방부 조사대) at Samgakji, Yongsan-gu, Seoul.

• 1970

  Moved to Samgakji, Yongsan-gu.

• 1968

  Moved to Seobinggo-dong, Yongsan-gu.

• 1963

  Moved to Namsan-dong, Jung-gu.

• 1960

  Reorganized as the Ministry of National Defense Joint Investigation Team (국방부 합동조사대) in Huam-dong, Yongsan-gu.

• 1953

  Established as the Military Police General Headquarters (헌병총사령부) in Pildong, Seoul.

Government military criminal investigation agency under the Ministry of National Defense

1. 1국방부 조사본부mdc.mnd.go.kr
2. 2Republic of Korea Defense Criminal Investigation Commandwikidata.org
3. 3국방부조사본부ko.wikipedia.org