| Republic of Korea Army "대한민국 육군 (Daehanminguk Yuk-gun)" |
|
|---|---|
| Active | September 5, 1948 – present |
| Country | Republic of Korea |
| Type | Army |
| Size | 520,000 (2010)[1] |
| Part of | Ministry of National Defense |
| Garrison/HQ | Gyeryong |
| Motto | "강한친구 대한민국 육군" ("A Strong Friend, Republic of Korea Army") |
| Mascot | "호국이" (HOGUGY) |
| Engagements | Korean War Vietnam War Gulf War War in Afghanistan Iraq War |
| Commanders | |
| Army Chief of Staff | General Kim Sang-ki |
The Republic of Korea Army (ROK Army, ROKA, Korean: 대한민국 육군, Hanja: 大韓民國 陸軍, Revised Romanization: Daehanminguk Yuk-gun) is the largest of the military branches of the South Korean armed forces with 520,000 members as of 2010. This size is maintained through conscription; South Korean men must complete 21 months of military service between graduation of high school and the age of 35. The Republic of Korea maintains a well equipped army, making it one of the most powerful in Asia. Its primary function is to defend the country's terrain from enemies, most notably the DPRK.
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The army is structured to operate in both the mountainous terrain native to the Korean Peninsula (70% mountainous) and in North Korea with its 1 million strong Korean People's Army, two-thirds of which is permanently garrisoned in the frontline near the DMZ. The current administration has initiated a program over the next two decades to design a purely domestic means of self-defense, whereby South Korea would be able to fully counter a North Korean attack.
The ROK Army was formerly organized into 3 armies: the First Army (FROKA), Second Army (2nd OC), and Third Army (TROKA), each with its own headquarters, 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 2nd OC formed the rearguard.
Under a restructuring plan aimed at reducing redundancy, the Second ROK Army was converted as the Second Operations Command in 2006, and the First and Third ROK Armies will be merged as the First Operations Command in 2010.
The 1st of every October is celebrated in South Korea as the Armed Forces Day. It commemorates the day during the Korean War when units of the ROK Army first crossed the 38th Parallel, thus leading the UN Coalition north into North Korean territory for the first time.
(This is the former Second Republic of Korea Army (SROKA))
The army consists of 520,000 troops, 2,300 tanks, 2,500 armored vehicles, 5,200 artillery pieces and MRLs, 30 guided missile systems, and 600 helicopters as of 2010.
The tanks include 880 M48 Patton series and its upgrades such as M48A3K, M48A5, and M48A5K, 33 Soviet T-80U and 2 T-80UK (given by Russia to pay off debt), as well as the more recent K1 and K1A1 which bear a 120 mm smoothbore gun and are of local manufacture. The ROK Army is using approximately 2,500 tanks, including 1,524 K1A1 and K1 tanks.
The future replacement for the K1 and K1A1 MBTs has been named 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. 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 Abrams and German Leopard 2A6. The ROK Army is planning to field approximately 390 Black Panthers.
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 or M230-1 Chain gun Turret or MK-30 Chaingun Turret.
A replacement for K200 series IFVs are currently being tested, designated as K21 KNIFV (Korea Next generation Infantry Fighting Vehicle), which will have various capabilities for both land and naval warfare. The initial production is set for 2008, with the ROKA planning to field approximately 1,000 units until 2015.
The K21 KNIFV's chassis will be constructed entirely out of fiberglass, reducing the vehicle's load and enabling it to travel at higher speeds without bulky and powerful engines. When constructed, the NIFV will be lighter than other IFVs, including the American Bradley series and Russian BMP series, increasing both speed and payload.
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 powerful 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, the Daewoo K11 entered service in 2010. The overall concept of this weapon is similar to the American OICW.
Officer ranks can be learned fairly easily if one sees the pattern. "So" (小) equals small; "Jung" (中) equals medium; "Dae" (大) equals large.
"Jun" (准) equals equivalent, used for Warrant Officer and 1 star general to ensure that they are regarded as officer/general, although these ranks are lower than the same grade with "So" rank.
"Won" (元) equals principal, only used for Won-Su, General of the Army.
Each of these is coupled with "wi" (尉) equals company grade, "ryung" (領) equals field grade, and "jang" (將) equals general.
NCO rank is same as officer. "Ha" (下) equals lower; "Jung" (中) equals medium; "Sang" (上) equals high; "Won" (元) equals principal, because this title is named after Won-Su, to ensure that this rank is higher than Sang-sa.
Each of these is coupled with "Sa" (士) equals sergeant, although actual 'sergeant' rank is "Byeong-jang".
This system is due to the hanja or Sino-Korean origin of the names.
LINK : http://i.kdaq.empas.com/imgs/qrsi.tsp/8061636/10565009/0/1/A/photo.jpg
| ROK Army rank | ROK Army insignia |
| Won-su¹
(General of the Army) |
N/A |
| Dae-jang
(General) |
|
| Jung-jang
(Lieutenant General) |
|
| So-jang
(Major General) |
|
| Jun-jang
(Brigadier General) |
|
| Dae-ryeong
(Colonel) |
|
| Jung-ryeong
(Lieutenant Colonel) |
|
| So-ryeong
(Major) |
|
| Dae-wi
(Captain) |
|
| Jung-wi
(First Lieutenant) |
|
| So-wi
(Second Lieutenant) |
| ROK Army rank | ROK Army insignia |
| Jun-wi
(Warrant Officer) |
| ROK Army rank | ROK Army insignia |
| Won-sa
(Sergeant Major) |
|
| Sang-sa
(Master Sergeant) |
|
| Jung-sa
(Sergeant First Class) |
|
| Ha-sa
(Staff Sergeant) |
| ROK Army rank | ROK Army insignia |
| Byeong-jang
(Sergeant) |
|
| Sang-byeong
(Corporal) |
|
| Il-byeong
(Private First Class) |
|
| Yi-byeong
(Private) |
|
| Hulyeonbyeong
(Recruit) |
¹: No one has yet held the rank of Won-su in the history of the ROK Armed Forces.
²: The Jun-wi (Warrant Officer)'s insignia is in gold color while the ones of Second Lieutenant and higher are in silver color.
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