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Comparative military ranks of Korea

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The comparative military ranks of Korea are the military insignia used by the two nations on the Korean Peninsula, those being the Republic of Korea Armed Forces (South Korea) and the Korean People's Army of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). The United States Forces Korea personnel wear the ranks and insignia used by other service personnel of the United States Armed Forces in the territories of the United States.

In the South Korean armed forces, ranks fall into one of four categories: commissioned officer, warrant officer, non-commissioned officer, and junior enlisted ("Byeong"), in decreasing order of authority. Commissioned officer ranks are subdivided into general officers ("Jangseong"; 장성/將星), field-grade officers ("Yeonggwan"; 영관/領官), and company-grade officers ("Wigwan"; 위관/尉官). The ranks of all three branches (the Army, Navy, and Air Force) of the South Korean Armed Forces share the same titles in Hangul. Most ranks of South and North Korea are identical, with some exceptions such as the supreme North Korean ranks.

While the North Korean ranks are inspired by the Soviet ranks,[1] the South Korean ranks are inspired by the United States.[2]

The following table lists the comparative ranks of the militaries in Korea, including their rank titles and insignia. In this table, the North Korean military rank insignia shown is that of their Army field uniform shoulder boards; their parade uniforms and uniforms of other branches use alternative color schemes with the same basic design. The South Korean likewise have subdued versions of their insignia in each of their branches.

Special ranks

[edit]
North Korean rank North Korean insignia[3]
Grand Marshal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
(Korean: 대원수, romanizedTae wonsu)[a]
Marshal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
(Korean: 공화국원수, romanizedKonghwaguk Wonsu)[b]

Officer ranks

[edit]

The shoulder boards and sleeve stripes of South Korean ranks apply only to their navies. North Korea's People's Army does not maintain a separate marine corps or naval infantry branch as part of their armed forces, although it does maintain two "amphibious sniper brigades" as part of the North Korean Special Operation Force (NKSOF). North Korean insignia follow the Soviet pattern, while South Korean insignia follow a mix of American and British rank insignia traditions.

No one has held the five-star rank Wonsu in the history of the ROK Armed Forces.

Army ranks

[edit]
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
 Korean People's Army Ground Force[4]
Marshal of the KPA Vice marshal Captain general Superior general Middle general Junior general Captain commander Superior commander Middle commander Junior commander Captain Senior lieutenant Middle lieutenant Junior Lieutenant
인민군원수
Inmingun-wonsu
차수
Chasu
대장
Daejang
상장
Sangjang
중장
Chungjang
소장
Sojang
대좌
Daechwa
상좌
Sangjwa
중좌
Chungjwa
소좌
Sojwa
대위
Taewi
상위
Sangwi
중위
Chungwi
소위
Sowi
 Republic of Korea Army[5]
Marshal of the RoK Superior general Middle general Junior general Lesser general Superior commander Middle commander Junior commander Superior lieutenant Middle lieutenant Junior lieutenant
원수
Wonsu
대장
Daejang
중장
Jungjang
소장
Sojang
준장
Junjang
대령
Daeryeong
중령
Jungnyeong
소령
Soryeong
대위
Daewi
중위
Jungwi
소위
Sowi
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers

All DPRK Marshalls wear Ground Force uniform as there is no division of Branch after this rank.

Air force ranks

[edit]
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
 Korean People's Army Air Force[4]
Marshal of the KPAF Vice marshal Captain General Superior General Middle General Junior General Captain Commander Superior Commander Middle Commander Junior Commander Captain Lieutenant Superior Lieutenant Middle Lieutenant Junior Lieutenant
인민군원수
Inmingun-wonsu
차수
Chasu
대장
Daejang
상장
Sangjang
중장
Chungjang
소장
Sojang
대좌
Daechwa
상좌
Sangjwa
중좌
Chungjwa
소좌
Sojwa
대위
Taewi
상위
Sangwi
중위
Chungwi
소위
Sowi
 Republic of Korea Air Force[6]
Marshal of the ROK Superior general Middle general Junior general Lesser general Superior commander Middle commander Junior commander Superior lieutenant Middle lieutenant Junior lieutenant
원수
Wonsu
대장
Daejang
중장
Jungjang
소장
Sojang
준장
Junjang
대령
Daeryeong
중령
Jungnyeong
소령
Soryeong
대위
Daewi
중위
Jungwi
소위
Sowi
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
[edit]

ROK Navy commissioned officer ranks have two distinct sets of rank insignia: On dress uniform a series of stripes similar to the United States Navy naval ranks are worn; on service uniforms, working uniforms, and special uniform situations (combat utilities and flight suits), the rank insignia are the same as the equivalent rank in the Army or the Air Force.

Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
 Korean People's Navy[4]
인민군원수
Inmingun-wonsu
차수
Chasu
대장
Daejang
상장
Sangjang
중장
Chungjang
소장
Sojang
대좌
Daechwa
상좌
Sangjwa
중좌
Chungjwa
소좌
Sojwa
대위
Taewi
상위
Sangwi
중위
Chungwi
소위
Sowi
 Republic of Korea Navy[7]











원수
Wonsu
대장
Daejang
중장
Jungjang
소장
Sojang
준장
Junjang
대령
Daeryeong
중령
Jungnyeong
소령
Soryeong
대위
Daewi
중위
Jungwi
소위
Sowi
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers

Marine Corps

[edit]
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
 Republic of Korea Marine Corps[6]
Superior General Middle General Junior General Lesser General Superior Commander Middle Commander Junior Commander Superior Lieutenant Middle Lieutenant Junior Lieutenant
대장
Daejang
중장
Jungjang
소장
Sojang
준장
Junjang
대령
Daeryeong
중령
Jungnyeong
소령
Soryeong
대위
Daewi
중위
Jungwi
소위
Sowi
Rank group General/flag officers Senior officers Junior officers

Warrant officer ranks

[edit]

All branches of the South Korean armed forces maintain a single Warrant Officer rank known as Junwi. Warrant Officers fall 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. The North Korean military does not maintain any equivalent Warrant Officer positions.

Rank group Warrant officer
Army Navy Marine Corps Air force
Insignia
Korean 준위
Junwi
English translation Warrant Officer

Enlisted ranks

[edit]

Both North Korea and South Korea share the same enlisted rank structure among all of their military branches. Enlisted rank insignia differ however: The ROKAF uses a mix of American, British, and French practice while the KPA's insignia follow Soviet practice.

In the South Korean armed forces, personnel with ranks of Hasa through Wonsa are considered non-commissioned officers. There are enlisted ranks called "Lance corporal", and "Corporal" in English, but they are not considered non-commissioned officer ranks, though they are treated as one if they hold an NCO position. Ideungbyeong (이등병; 2等兵, sometimes translated as private), Ildeungbyeong (일등병; 1等兵, sometimes translated as private first class), and Sangdeungbyeong (상등병; 上等兵, equivalent of a lance corporal) are commonly referred to as Ibyeong, Ilbyeong, and Sangbyeong respectively.

Army ranks

[edit]
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
 Korean People's Army Ground Force[4]
특무상사
T'ŭkmu-sangsa
상사
Sangsa
중사
Chungsa
하사
Hasa
상급병사
Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa
중급병사
Chungŭp-pyŏngsa
하급병사
Hagŭp-pyŏngsa
전사
Chŏnsa
 Republic of Korea Army[5]
원사
Wonsa
상사
Sangsa
중사
Jungsa
하사
Hasa
병장
Byeongjang
상등병
Sangdeungbyeong
일등병
Ildeungbyeong
이등병
Ideungbyeong
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted

Air force ranks

[edit]
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
 Korean People's Army Air Force[4]
특무상사
T'ŭkmu-sangsa
상사
Sangsa
중사
Chungsa
하사
Hasa
상급병사
Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa
중급병사
Chungŭp-pyŏngsa
하급병사
Hagŭp-pyŏngsa
전사
Chŏnsa
 Republic of Korea Air Force[6]
원사
Wonsa
상사
Sangsa
중사
Jungsa
하사
Hasa
병장
Byeongjang
상등병
Sangdeungbyeong
일등병
Ildeungbyeong
이등병
Ideungbyeong
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
[edit]

In reality, personnel in Sangsa and Wonsa rates are considered as chief petty officers (i.e. Chief Petty Officer and Master Chief Petty Officer, respectively) in the South Korean navy. Byeongjang and below are commonly referred to as "Subyeong" (seaman).

Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
 Korean People's Navy[4]
특무상사
T'ŭkmu-sangsa
상사
Sangsa
중사
Chungsa
하사
Hasa
상급병사
Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa
중급병사
Chungŭp-pyŏngsa
하급병사
Hagŭp-pyŏngsa
전사
Chŏnsa
 Republic of Korea Navy[7]
원사
Wonsa
상사
Sangsa
중사
Jungsa
하사
Hasa
병장
Byeongjang
상등병
Sangdeungbyeong
일등병
Ildeungbyeong
이등병
Ideungbyeong
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted

Marine Corps

[edit]
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
 Republic of Korea Marine Corps[6]
원사
Wonsa
상사
Sangsa
중사
Jungsa
하사
Hasa
병장
Byeongjang
상등병
Sangdeungbyeong
일등병
Ildeungbyeong
이등병
Ideungbyeong
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]

In the article, all South Korean ranks are spelled accordingly with the Revised Romanization of Korean system; all North Korean ranks use the McCune-Reischauer system.

  1. ^ Highest possible political-military rank of North Korea and is intended to be an honorific title for the nation’s Great Leaders.
  2. ^ Highest political-military rank reserved only for Supreme Leader of North Korea.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Keegan, John (1979). "North Korea". In Keegan, John (ed.). World armies. Sandhurst: Royal Military Academy. p. 409. LCCN 79-9217. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  2. ^ Keegan, John (1979). "South Korea". In Keegan, John (ed.). World armies. Sandhurst: Royal Military Academy. p. 415. LCCN 79-9217. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  3. ^ Tertitskiy, Fyodor (14 March 2017). "North Korea's baffling personalized rank insignia, explained". NK News. Korea Risk Group. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Minnich, James M. (2008). "National Security". In Worden, Robert L. (ed.). North Korea: a country study. Area Handbook (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. pp. 266, 268. LCCN 2008028547. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Army Insignia". army.mil.kr. Republic of Korea Army. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d "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.
  7. ^ a b "해군계급장/해군흉.휘장". navy.mil.kr (in Korean). Republic of Korea Navy. Retrieved 2 June 2021.