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
Rank title	원수 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 Branch	Army	Navy	Marine Corps	Air Force
Rank title	준위 准尉 Junwi
Insignia
Insignia

Other ranks

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

Rank group	Non-commissioned officer				Enlisted
Rank title	원사 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 group	Non-commissioned officer																Enlisted
Republic of Korea Army (1954–1962)^[5]
Republic of Korea Army (1954–1962)^[5]
Republic of Korea Army (1962–19??)^[6]
Republic of Korea Army (1962–19??)^[6]

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 "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.
^ ^a ^b "해군계급장/해군흉.휘장". navy.mil.kr (in Korean). Republic of Korea Navy. 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.