Army-guard duty

▲ This file photo, provided by the Marine Corps, shows Marines conducting a coast surveillance operation on Dec. 31, 2025. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Oct. 19 (Yonhap) -- The Army plans to create new security brigades under the command of corps that will be tasked with overseeing surveillance operations at general outposts near the inter-Korean border as part of a defense reform plan, officials said Monday.

Currently, brigades in border areas assign their battalions to conduct surveillance operations at general outposts along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas.

But under the new plan, the Army will create security brigades solely tasked with overseeing surveillance operations at general outposts and place them under the command of corps to enable front-line units to focus on guard duty.

The move comes as front-line brigades were reportedly burdened with guard duty, along with managing forward-deployed troops, known as Forward Edge of Battle Area (FEBA) units, responsible for training and combat readiness.

The Army plans to first introduce security units under the 5th Infantry Division and 22nd Infantry Division by October 2027 before gradually expanding them into dedicated brigades under corps command.

As part of the reform plan, the Army seeks to transform its surveillance system into one utilizing artificial intelligence-driven manned-unmanned teaming combat systems by 2040.

It also plans to complete the development of its AI-driven general outpost surveillance system for border areas by 2028 and establish the operational system by 2033.

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