The 13th Special Mission Brigade (), commonly referred to as "Black Panther" () and "Decapitation Unit" (), is an airborne Special Force under the Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command. The primary specialization of the 13th Special Mission Brigade is conducting decapitation strikes within the Special Forces Brigades of the Republic of Korea.

History
On July 1, 1977, the 13th Special Force Brigade was established in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province.

On July 20, 1982, the brigade was relocated to Jeungpyeong County, North Chungcheong Province.

The unit was responsible for security during the 1986 Asian Games and the 1988 Olympic Games.

In December 2017, the brigade was restructured and designated as a Special Mission Brigade, earning the nickname "Decapitation Unit (참수부대)."

Confusion with ROKMC Quick Maneuver Force (Spartan 3000)
On September 4, 2017, South Korean Minister of National Defense, Song Young-moo, announced the establishment of the "Decapitation Unit (참수부대)" to be completed by December 2017.

However, some western news outlets misunderstood the announcement and mistakenly reported that a unit called "Spartan 3000" with the same "Decapitation Unit (참수부대)" task would be formed by the end of 2017. In reality, "Spartan 3000" was a nickname for the ROK Marine Corps Quick Maneuver Force, which had already been fully formed in March 2016.

In actuality, the 13th Special Forces Brigade was reorganized as the 13th Special Mission Brigade, assigned with the "Decapitation Unit (참수부대)" task aimed at Supreme Leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, on 1 December 2017.

Notable former members
 Lee Seung-gi

See also
 707th Special Mission Group
 Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command
 Special Forces Brigades of the Republic of Korea

References

External links 
 Official Website of ROK Special Warfare Command

1977 establishments in South Korea
Special forces of the Republic of Korea
Military units and formations established in 1977