| Son Won-il | |
|---|---|
Rear Admiral Sohn Won-yil, c. 1949 |
|
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 손원일 |
| Hanja | 孫元一 |
| Revised Romanization | Son Wonil |
| McCune–Reischauer | Son Wŏnil |
Vice Admiral Son Won-il, ROKN (May 5, 1909 – February 15, 1980) was the first Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) of the Republic of Korea Navy. As one of the founding members of the Republic of Korea Navy, he is generally regarded as the founder of the South Korean navy[1]. After relieved from the service, he was appointed as the fifth Minister of National Defense, and the first ambassador to West Germany.
In honor of Vice Admiral Sohn, ROKS Son Wonil (SS 072), the first of Son Wonil class submarines, was commissioned in 2007.