Republic of Korea Army

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Military of South Korea

Branches

Army

Navy

Air Force

Marine Corps

Homeland Reserve Forces

History

Personnel

Comparative military ranks

Military ranks

Equipment

The Republic of Korea Army (ROK Army, ROKA, hangul: 대한민국 육군; hanja: 大韓民國陸軍) is by far the largest of the military branches, with over 560,000 members as of 2004. This comes as a response to both the mountainous terrain native to the Korean Peninsula (70% mountainous) as well as the heavy North Korean presence, with its 1 million strong army, two-thirds of which is permanently garrisoned in the frontline near the DMZ.

1 Overview
2 History
3 Order of Battle
4 Military Ranks
5 External links

[edit] Overview

The current administration has initiated a program of self-defense, whereby South Korea would be able to fully counter the North Korean threat with purely domestic means within the next two decades.

The ROK Army was formerly organized into 3 armies: the First Army (FROKA), Second Army (SROKA), and Third Army (TROKA), each with its own head quarters, corps, and divisions. The Third Army was responsible for the defense of the capital as well as the western section of the DMZ. The First Army was responsible for the defense of the eastern section of the DMZ whereas the SROKA formed the rearguard.

Under a restructuring plan aimed at reducing redundancy, the First and Third Armies have been incorporated into the newly formed Ground Operations Command (GOC), whereas the Second ROK Army has been converted into the Rear Operations Command (ROC).

The army consists of 560,000 troops, 4,975 Tanks/Armored Vehicles, 5,598 battlefield Artillery Systems (Includes Tracked, Wheeled and Towed Systems) and 13,000 Infantry Support Systems.

Equipment of the ROK Army include the older M47, M48 as well as the more recent K1 and K1A1, which bear a 120 mm smoothbore gun and are of local manufacture.

A K1A1 main battle tank.

The future replacement for the K1 MBT has been baptized the K2 Black Panther(흑표/黑豹; Heukpyo), which will be fitted with a 1500 hp MTU-based engine, 55-caliber 120 mm main gun with autoloader, which has been reportedly rumored to be able to penetrate through the amount of armor equivalent to that of American M1A2. The new tank will also feature RADAR equipment as well as all-bearing LASER detection and defense systems, anti-missile grenade launcher, and heavy reactive armor and sensor package comparable to the American M1A2 and French LeClerc.

In addition South Korea already manufactures the indigenous K-9 howitzer, which have been exported to Turkey, as well as the K200 series KIFV's which saw action in UN peacekeeping operations(PKO) as part of the Malaysian peacekeeping forces. A variation of the K200, the KAFV's can be retrofitted to bear a 90 mm barrel or 40 mm grenade turret.

A replacement for K200 series IFVs are currently being tested, designated as XK21 NIFV (Next-generation Infantry Fighting Vehicle), which will have various capabilities for both land and naval warfare.

The ROK Army also fields the mobile K-SAM "Pegasus"(천마/天馬; Cheonma), fitted with 8 missiles that fly at maximum speeds of mach 2.6, and the K-30 "Biho" series, which features a 30 mm twin gun system for anti-aerial fire support.

Besides having vehicles and equipment of their own design as well as American models, the ROK Army also has several Russian-built AFVs, including BMP-3 IFVs and T-80U MBTs, given by the Russian government to pay off the financial debt owed to South Korea. Other notable foreign equipment in service with the ROK Army includes the Mistral MANPADS.

A new infantry rifle, named KNR or Korean New Rifle, has recently been unveiled. The overall concept of this weapon is similar to the American OICW. It is slated for distribution around 2010.

[edit] History

The 1st of every October is celebrated in South Korea as the Armed Forces Day. It commemorates the same date during the Korean War when units of the ROK Army first crossed the 38th Parallel, thus leading the UN Coalition north into communist territory for the first time.

[edit] Order of Battle

Republic of Korea Army Headquarters (대한민국 육군본부)

Missile Command (유도탄사령부)
Chemical Defense Command (화생방방호사령부)

Capital Defense Command (수도방위사령부)

1st Chemical Defense Brigade (1화학전방호여단)
122nd Signal Brigade (122통신여단)
10th Air Defense Artillery Group (10방공단)
1133rd Engineer Group (1133공병단)

52nd Homeland Defense Infantry Division (52향토보병사단)
56th Homeland Defense Infantry Division (56향토보병사단)
57th Homeland Defense Infantry Division (57향토보병사단)
60th Reserve Infantry Division (60동원보병사단)
71st Reserve Infantry Division (71동원보병사단)

Special Warfare Command (특수전사령부)

707th Special Mission Battalion (707특수임무대대)

Special Warfare Training Group (특수전교육단)
1st Special Forces Brigade (Airborne) (1공수특전여단)
3rd Special Forces Brigade (Airborne) (3공수특전여단)
5th Special Mission Brigade (Airborne) (5공수특임여단)
7th Special Forces Brigade (Airborne) (7공수특전여단)
9th Special Forces Brigade (Airborne) (9공수특전여단)
11th Special Forces Brigade (Airborne) (11공수특전여단)
13th Special Forces Brigade (Airborne) (13공수특전여단)

Aviation Command (항공사령부)

1st Aviation Brigade (1항공여단)
2nd Aviation Brigade (2항공여단)
203rd Special Assault Brigade (Air Assault) (203특공여단) (공중강습)

Army Logistics Command (육군군수사령부)
Army Training & Doctrine Command (육군교육사령부)

Army University (육군대학교)
Technical Schools (병과학교)

Army Combat Development Group (육군전투발전단)
Military Academy (육군사관학교)

First Army (FROKA) (1야전군) (Will be formed the Ground Operations Command with TROKA by 2010)

3rd Armored Brigade (3기갑여단)
11th Field Artillery Group (11야전포병단)
12th Aviation Group (12항공단)
1107th Engineer Group (1107공병단)
1170th Engineer Group (1170공병단)

11th Infantry Division (Mechanized) (11기계화보병사단)
1st Logistical Support Command (1군수지원사령부)

II Corps (2군단)

2nd Artillery Brigade (2포병여단)
2nd Engineer Brigade (2공병여단)
102nd Signal Brigade (102통신여단)
702nd Special Assault Regiment (702특공연대)
302nd Security Regiment (302경비연대)

7th Infantry Division (7보병사단)
15th Infantry Division (15보병사단)
27th Infantry Division (27보병사단)

III Corps (3군단)

3rd Artillery Brigade (3포병여단)
3rd Engineer Brigade (3공병여단)
103rd Signal Brigade (103통신여단)
703rd Special Assault Regiment (703특공연대)
303rd Security Regiment (303경비연대)

2nd Infantry Division (2보병사단)
12th Infantry Division (12보병사단)
21st Infantry Division (21보병사단)

VIII Corps (8군단)

8th Artillery Brigade (8포병여단)
102nd Infantry Brigade (102보병여단)

22nd Infantry Division (22보병사단)
23rd Infantry Division (23보병사단)

Second Army (SROKA) (2야전군) (Will be formed the Rear Operations Command by 2010)

21st Aviation Group (21항공단)
1117th Engineer Group (1117공병단)
1120th Engineer Group (1120공병단)

2nd Logistical Support Command (2군수지원사령부)

IX Corps (9군단) (Will be inactivated by 2010)

201st Special Assault Brigade (201특공여단)

31st Homeland Defense Infantry Division (31향토보병사단)
32nd Homeland Defense Infantry Division (32향토보병사단)
35th Homeland Defense Infantry Division (35향토보병사단)
37th Homeland Defense Infantry Division (37향토보병사단)

XI Corps (11군단) (Will be inactivated by 2010)

205th Special Assault Brigade (205특공여단)

39th Homeland Defense Infantry Division (39향토보병사단)
50th Homeland Defense Infantry Division (50향토보병사단)
53rd Homeland Defense Infantry Division (53향토보병사단)

Third Army (TROKA) (3야전군) (Will be formed the Ground Operations Command with FROKA by 2010)

1st Air Defense Artillery Brigade (1방공포병여단)
1101st Engineer Group (1101공병단)
1173rd Engineer Group (1173공병단)
1175th Engineer Group (1175공병단)

3rd Logistical Support Command (3군수지원사령부)

Capital Corps (수도군단)

Capital Artillery Brigade (수도포병여단)
103rd Infantry Brigade (103보병여단)
100th Signal Brigade (100통신여단)
700th Special Assault Regiment (700특공연대)

17th Infantry Division (17보병사단)

I Corps (1군단)

2nd Armored Brigade (2기갑여단)
101st Infantry Brigade (101보병여단)
1st Engineer Brigade (1공병여단)
101st Signal Brigade (101통신여단)
11th Aviation Group (11항공단)
701st Special Assault Regiment (701특공연대)
301st Security Regiment (301경비연대)

1st Artillery Brigade (1포병여단)

2nd Field Artillery Group (2야전포병단)
3rd Field Artillery Group (3야전포병단)
7th Field Artillery Group (7야전포병단)

1st Infantry Division (1보병사단)
9th Infantry Division (9보병사단)
25th Infantry Division (25보병사단)
30th Infantry Division (Mechanized) (30기계화보병사단)

V Corps (5군단)

1st Armored Brigade (1기갑여단)
5th Engineer Brigade (5공병여단)
105th Signal Brigade (105통신여단)
15th Aviation Group (15항공단)
705th Special Assault Regiment (705특공연대)
305th Security Regiment (305경비연대)

5th Artillery Brigade (5포병여단)

1st Field Artillery Group (1야전포병단)
5th Field Artillery Group (5야전포병단)

3rd Infantry Division (3보병사단)
6th Infantry Division (6보병사단)
8th Infantry Division (8보병사단) (Will be Mechanized by 2010)

VI Corps (6군단)

5th Armored Brigade (5기갑여단)
6th Engineer Brigade (6공병여단)
106th Signal Brigade (106통신여단)
16th Aviation Group (16항공단)
706th Special Assault Regiment (706특공연대)
306th Security Regiment (306경비연대)

6th Artillery Brigade (6포병여단)

6th Field Artillery Group (6야전포병단)
9th Field Artillery Group (9야전포병단)

5th Infantry Division (5보병사단)
26th Infantry Division (Mechanized) (26기계화보병사단)
28th Infantry Division (28보병사단)

VII Corps (7군단)

7th Artillery Brigade (7포병여단)
7th Engineer Brigade (7공병여단)
107th Signal Brigade (107통신여단)
17th Aviation Group (17항공단)
7th Airborne Group (7공수단)

Capital Infantry Division (Mechanized) 'Tiger Division' (수도기계화보병사단 '맹호사단')
20th Infantry Division (Mechanized) (20기계화보병사단)

[edit] Military Ranks

[edit] General ranks

ROK Army rank	ROK Army insignia

Wonsu (General of the Army) (Wartime Only)

Daejang (General)

Chungjang (Lieutenant General)

Sojang (Major General)

Junjang (Brigadier General)

[edit] Officer ranks

ROK Army rank	ROK Army insignia

Daeryeong (Colonel)

Jungryeong (Lieutenant Colonel)

Soryeong (Major)

Daewi (Captain)

Jungwi (First Lieutenant)

Sowi (Second Lieutenant)

[edit] Enlisted ranks

ROK Army rank	ROK Army insignia

Wonsa (Sergeant Major)

Sangsa (Master Sergeant)

Jungsa (Sergeant First Class)

Hasa (Staff Sergeant)

Byeongjang (Sergeant)

Sangbyeong (Corporal)

Ilbyeong (Private First Class)

Ibyeong (Private)

Hullyeonbyeong (Recruit)	No Insignia