Military ranks of South Korea
The Military ranks of South Korea are the military insignia used by the Republic of Korea Armed Forces. Due to the close military cooperation and the presence of the United States Forces Korea, South Korean ranks are inspired by the United States.[1]
Current ranks
Commissioned officer ranks
The rank insignia of commissioned officers.
| Rank group | General/flag officers | Field/senior officers | Junior officers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hangul | 원수 | 대장 | 중장 | 소장 | 준장 | 대령 | 중령 | 소령 | 대위 | 중위 | 소위 |
| Hanja | 元帥 | 大將 | 中將 | 少將 | 准將 | 大領 | 中領 | 少領 | 大尉 | 中尉 | 少尉 |
| Romanization | Wonsu | Daejang | Jungjang | Sojang | Junjang | Daeryeong | Jungnyeong | Soryeong | Daewi | Jungwi | Sowi |
| Armed Forces[2] | |||||||||||
| Republic of Korea Army[3] | |||||||||||
| Republic of Korea Navy[4] | |||||||||||
| Republic of Korea Marine Corps[2] | |||||||||||
| Republic of Korea Air Force[2] | |||||||||||
Rank flags
| Rank | Wonsu | Daejang | Jungjang | Sojang | Junjang |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Army & marine corps[2] |
|||||
| Navy[2] | |||||
| Air force[2] |
Warrant officer ranks
All branches of the South Korean armed forces maintain a single warrant officer rank known as Junwi. This rank falls in between non-commissioned and commissioned officers. The rank is denoted by a gold-colored Sowi insignia and, in the case of the South Korean Navy, a single broken sleeve stripe.
| Military Branch | Army | Navy | Marine Corps | Air Force |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hangul | 준위 | |||
| Hanja | 准尉 | |||
| Romanization | Junwi | |||
| Insignia | ||||
Other ranks
The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.
| Rank group | Non-commissioned officer | Enlisted | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hangul | 원사 | 상사 | 중사 | 하사 | 병장 | 상등병 | 일등병 | 이등병 |
| Hanja | 元士 | 上士 | 中士 | 下士 | 兵長 | 上等兵 | 一等兵 | 二等兵 |
| Romanization | Wonsa | Sangsa | Jungsa | Hasa | Byeongjang | Sangdeungbyeong | Ildeungbyeong | Ideungbyeong |
| Armed Forces[2] | ||||||||
| Republic of Korea Army[3] | ||||||||
| Republic of Korea Navy[4] | ||||||||
| Republic of Korea Marine Corps[2] | ||||||||
| Republic of Korea Air Force[2] | ||||||||
Historic ranks
Other ranks
| Rank group | Non-commissioned officer | Enlisted | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic of Korea Army (1954–1962)[5] |
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| Republic of Korea Army (1962–19??)[6] |
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See also
References
- ^ Keegan, John (1979). "South Korea". In Keegan, John (ed.). World armies. Sandhurst: Royal Military Academy. p. 415. ISBN 9780871964076. LCCN 79-9217. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "gyegeubjang-ui jesig(je7joje2hang gwanlyeon)" 계급장의 제식(제7조제2항 관련) [Rank insignia (related to Article 7 (2))]. law.go.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- ^ a b "Army Insignia". army.mil.kr. Republic of Korea Army. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
- ^ Office of Armed Forces Information and Education (1960). "Korea". Military Uniforms (DOD PAM 1-14). Department of Defense. p. 35. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
- ^ Office of Armed Forces Information and Education (1968). "Korea". Uniforms of Seven Allies (DOD GEN-30). Department of Defense. p. 18. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
External links
- "Korea (South)". uniforminsignia.org. The International Encyclopedia of Uniform Insignia. Retrieved 2 July 2022.