To the end of achieving international peace and security, the UN Peacekeeping Operations carry out the following activities in countries in the process of restoring peace after the cease of hostile activities: observation of the cease-fire, disarmament, prevention of recurrence of disputes, maintenance of public security and safety, support for post-war reconstruction, and promotion of human rights and the rule of law.

The mandate of PKO is not formally stipulated in the UN Charter. Nonetheless, as it has begun to assume an important function in establishing post-Cold War international order, PKO has been understood as belonging to a realm halfway between the UN Charter chapter 6, which sets forth a peaceful solution to conflicts, and chapter 7 on measures against threats to peace, destruction of peace, and acts of aggression, thereby attaining the term chapter 6.5.

Since its first activity in Palestine in 1948 to monitor the region's cease-fire status, a total of 67 PKO missions have been implemented in about 120 countries, joined by more than a million participants. As of December 2012, about 95,000 troops, civilian police officers, and military observers are participating in 14 PKO missions.

Military forces dispatched for PKO missions are called Peace-keeping Forces (PKF), which are distinct from Multinational Forces (MNF).

UN Peace-keeping Operation is integral to maintaining international peace and security and is continuously expanding in terms of its size and mandate. The government of ROK is aware of the aforementioned importance of PKO and making effort to strengthen its contribution to the international society by increasing its participation in various peace-keeping activities.

Domestically, the "Act on Participation in UN PKO" was enacted in 2010 in a bid to promote ROK's prompt participation in UN PKO. This law allows the ROK government and the UN to establish provisional agreements on matters related to the deployment of about 1,000 peace-keepers prior to the approval of the National Assembly.

"Act on Participation in UN PKO" was enacted on Jan. 25, 2010 (effective as of 2010.4.26)

Recognizing the importance of UN PKO that facilitates the maintenance of international peace and security, the government of ROK will continue to actively participate in PKO missions and make constant efforts to improve its contribution to the program.

As of  December 2012, a total of 379 Korean military officers have been deployed to 8 different PKO missions.