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 groupGeneral/flag officersField/senior officersJunior officers
Rank title원수
元帥
Wonsu
대장
大將
Daejang
중장
中將
Jungjang
소장
少將
Sojang
준장
准將
Junjang
대령
大領
Daeryeong
중령
中領
Jungnyeong
소령
少領
Soryeong
대위
大尉
Daewi
중위
中尉
Jungwi
소위
少尉
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]

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.[citation needed]

Military BranchArmyNavyMarine CorpsAir Force
Rank title준위
准尉
Junwi
Insignia

Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Rank groupNon-commissioned officerEnlisted
Rank title원사
元士
Wonsa
상사
上士
Sangsa
중사
中士
Jungsa
하사
下士
Hasa
병장
兵長
Byeongjang
상등병
上等兵
Sangdeungbyeong
일등병
一等兵
Ildeungbyeong
이등병
二等兵
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 groupNon-commissioned officerEnlisted
 Republic of Korea Army
(1954–1962)[5]
 Republic of Korea Army
(1962–19??)[6]

See also

References

External links

  • "Korea (South)". uniforminsignia.org. The International Encyclopedia of Uniform Insignia. Retrieved 2 July 2022.