Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command ( ROKASWC ; ; Hanja : 大韓民國陸軍 特殊戰司令部 ) , also known as the Republic of Korea Black Beret Commandos , is the military command of the Republic of Korea Army responsible for their special operation forces . It consists of 6 brigades , and its main tasks include conducting reconnaissance and other tasks , mostly behind enemy lines . Since 1993 , the South Korean military has trained experts by sending officers to various PKO training institutions such as the Northern Europe United Nations Training Corps ( UNTC ) , Poland , and Ireland . And since 1995 , officers and related government officials have been sent to the Pearson Peacekeeping Center ( PPC ) in Canada . To lay the foundation for PKO education domestically , in 1995 the military designated the Joint Services Staff College to be the lead institution to educate officers to become military observers and staff . In May 1998 , the PKO Department was officially inaugurated within the college . Moreover , the Special Warfare Command ' s Education Corps was designated as the institution solely responsible for unit - level education of PKO forces by providing solid education for infantry and engineer personnel . Organization . The command includes seven special warfare brigades that receive special training for counter - terrorist missions . These seven brigades were funded in 1957 and fall under the jurisdiction of the Special Warfare Command , which was funded in 1969 . ROK special forces brigades main tasks include collecting information in enemy territory and carrying out special missions . ROK special forces brigades work in close relationship with their counterparts in the United States Army Special Forces . Volunteers for these brigades undergo training in high skilled weapon handling and parachuting . Units of the command include : Evergreen unit . The Evergreen Unit ( ) is an ad hoc , all - volunteer , amalgamated ROK Army unit ( usually of battalion strength ) , composed of various members of the South Korean military ( including infantry , combat support elements such as engineers and medics , ROK Special Forces and the ROK Marine Corps . ) , trained specifically for conducting worldwide security operations and rendering humanitarian assistance during ad hoc overseas deployments and UN Peacekeeping Operations . Somalia . The South Korean military participated in UN - led Peacekeeping Operations for the first time ever when it activated and deployed the " Evergreen " unit in the summer of 1993 to Somalia for the purpose of overseas reconstruction and humanitarian work . The " Evergreen " unit is an amalgamated ROK Army battalion - sized engineering unit ( named after Korea ' s ubiquitous perennial conifers ) , activated for the first time on June 30 , 1993 specifically for the Somali PKO deployment . The battalion - sized element , consisting of 504 men ( rotated annually ) , participated in repairing roads and rendering humanitarian assistance during the crisis in Somalia at the time . By the time their mission ended in September 1994 , the Evergreen unit deployed some 2 , 700 men and 1 , 300 pieces of equipment , successfully linking Balad and Zohar via a rebuilt road , and effectively cooperating with U . S . forces in building another road from Balad to Afgoa . East Timor . On August 30 , 1999 , a UN - mandated referendum for independence in East Timor was held , in which 78 . 5 percent of the electorate opted for independence . However , indigenous militias who opposed East Timor ' s independence caused devastating violence . Accordingly , the UN Security Council adopted a resolution to grant installation of the International Forces in East Timor ( INTERFET ) , and the UN Secretary General together with the government of Australia officially requested the South Korean government ' s participation , in addition to other UN - member nations such as Indonesia , who agreed to the deployment of the multinational forces and actively requested the participation of Asian nations . In response to the international request to maintain security and restore order , the South Korean government authorized the formation of a second Evergreen Unit . With a battalion strength of 419 personnel — 201 from ROK Special Forces with the balance of personnel from transportation , supply , communications , and medical specialties — the Evergreen unit arrived in Lautem , East Timor on 1 October 1999 . Upon their arrival , the area was still reeling from post - election violence and 40 per cent of the island ' s built - up infrastructure — including markets , schools and housing — had been destroyed by rioters . The population of 50 , 000 had dropped to 20 , 000 as a result of refugee movement in response to the widespread violence . Shortly thereafter , the 2nd Evergreen Unit formally initiated operations on 22 October 1999 in Lospalos , East Timor . Using its security component , detached from the 5th Special Forces brigade , Special Warfare Command , the Evergreen ' s area of responsibility covered just 12 % of East Timor ' s land mass . After a six - month deployment that ended on 28 April 2000 , the original 419 members of the Korean battalion returned to Korea after conducting a two - week long , in - theater handover and orientation for their replacements . In February 2002 , the battalion was redeployed to the Oeucci enclave to continue Peacekeeping Operations . In April , 2003 , an additional 250 - strong element from the 8th ROK BATT , deployed for a six - month peacekeeping mission in Oecussi , East Timor . In addition to security operations , the unit engaged in public relations and election - related work , including voter registration , and humanitarian assistance .