| 707th Special Mission Battalion | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1981 - present |
| Country | Republic of Korea |
| Branch | Republic of Korea Army |
| Type | Special forces |
| Role | Domestic Counter-Terrorism and Law Enforcements, Unconventional Warfare, Direct action, Raids |
| Size | unknown |
| Part of | ROKA Special Warfare Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Seongnam, South Korea |
| Nickname | White Tiger[1] |
The 707th Special Mission Battalion is the elite Special Forces unit in the Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command. The unit is South Korea’s primary counter-terrorist and quick reaction force. The unit’s soldiers – distinguished by their black berets – are tasked with conducting urban counter terrorist missions, and constitute the Army’s quick-reaction force for emergencies.[2] The battalion's nickname is 'White Tiger.'[1]
The unit also has a small number of female special forces operatives. They are used in counter-terror operations where the presence of a woman is not seen as a threat to a terrorist.[3]
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The unit had been formed after the Munich massacre, which forced the South Korean government to create a counter-terrorist unit in time for the 1988 Olympics that would be held on South Korean soil.[3]
The 707th SMB has also been called on by the South Korean government to prioritize potential counter-terrorist operations against any possible threats on South Korean soil.[4] They are currently the only Tier One counter-terrorism and Special Mission Unit in the Republic of Korea Armed Forces much like their US Delta Force and SEAL Team Six counterparts.[5]
The recruitment process usually involves conscripts from the different branches of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces who apply and try out to become members of the elite force. Others are handpicked by their superiors across the different branches of the military and try out like their applicant counterparts.
All members of the 707th are SCUBA and parachute qualified. It is reported that members frequently perform daily calisthenics in the snow and sub-zero temperatures and will swim in freezing lakes without any thermal protection.[6]
The 707th Special Mission Battalion trains with foreign partners, such as U.S. Army's Delta Force, FBI HRT, British SAS, Alpha Group, French GIGN, Canadian JTF2, Hong Kong SDU, and Singaporean STAR. The purpose is to experience and increase relationships and exchanges with international Special Forces communities.[7][8]
The Battalion also owns and operates a multi-complex counter-terrorism training site for the Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command and hosts multi-national counter-terrorist training.[5]