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Ranks· šŸ‡°šŸ‡· South Korea

South Korea vs China Military Ranks

The South Korean Army has 19 ranks — 11 officer and 8 enlisted — from ģ“ė“±ė³‘ äŗŒē­‰å…µ Ideungbyeong up to ģ›ģˆ˜ å…ƒåø„ Wonsu. Below: all 75 ranks across 4 branches (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines), aligned tier by tier with their Chinese equivalents.

Branches
4
Ranks documented
75
Active personnel
500K

Army

Rank Ladder Highest first · 18 of 19 matched
šŸ‡°šŸ‡· South Korea · Army NATO code
Equivalent in
Officers
South Korea Army ģ›ģˆ˜ å…ƒåø„ Wonsu insignia ģ›ģˆ˜ å…ƒåø„ Wonsu OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army
South Korea Army ėŒ€ģž„ 大將 Daejang insignia ėŒ€ģž„ 大將 Daejang OF-9 General China Army é™†å†›äøŠå°† (General) insignia é™†å†›äøŠå°† (General)
South Korea Army ģ¤‘ģž„ äø­å°‡ Jungjang insignia ģ¤‘ģž„ äø­å°‡ Jungjang OF-8 Lieutenant General China Army 陆军中将 (Lieutenant General) insignia 陆军中将 (Lieutenant General)
South Korea Army ģ†Œģž„ 小將 Sojang insignia ģ†Œģž„ 小將 Sojang OF-7 Major General China Army 陆军少将 (Major General) insignia 陆军少将 (Major General)
South Korea Army ģ¤€ģž„ 准將 Junjang insignia ģ¤€ģž„ 准將 Junjang OF-6 Brigadier General China Army 陆军大栔 (Senior Colonel) insignia 陆军大栔 (Senior Colonel)
South Korea Army ėŒ€ė ¹ 大領 Daeryeong insignia ėŒ€ė ¹ 大領 Daeryeong OF-5 Colonel China Army é™†å†›äøŠę ” (Colonel) insignia é™†å†›äøŠę ” (Colonel)
South Korea Army 중령 中領 Jungnyeong insignia 중령 中領 Jungnyeong OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel China Army 陆军中栔 (Lieutenant Colonel) insignia 陆军中栔 (Lieutenant Colonel)
South Korea Army ģ†Œė ¹ 少領 Soryeong insignia ģ†Œė ¹ 少領 Soryeong OF-3 Major / Commandant China Army 陆军少栔 (Major) insignia 陆军少栔 (Major)
South Korea Army ėŒ€ģœ„ 大尉 Daewi insignia ėŒ€ģœ„ 大尉 Daewi OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant China Army é™†å†›äøŠå°‰ (Captain) insignia é™†å†›äøŠå°‰ (Captain)
South Korea Army ģ¤‘ģœ„ äø­å°‰ Jungwi insignia ģ¤‘ģœ„ äø­å°‰ Jungwi OF-1 Lieutenant China Army 陆军中尉 (First Lieutenant) insignia 陆军中尉 (First Lieutenant) China Army 陆军少尉 (Second Lieutenant) insignia 陆军少尉 (Second Lieutenant)
South Korea Army ģ†Œģœ„ 小尉 Sowi insignia ģ†Œģœ„ 小尉 Sowi OF-1 Lieutenant China Army 陆军中尉 (First Lieutenant) insignia 陆军中尉 (First Lieutenant) China Army 陆军少尉 (Second Lieutenant) insignia 陆军少尉 (Second Lieutenant)
Enlisted ranks
South Korea Army 원사 元士 Wonsa insignia 원사 元士 Wonsa OR-9 Sergeant Major China Army 陆军一级军士长 (First Class Sergeant Major) insignia 陆军一级军士长 (First Class Sergeant Major)
South Korea Army ģƒģ‚¬ 上士 Sangsa insignia ģƒģ‚¬ 上士 Sangsa OR-8 1st Sergeant China Army é™†å†›äŗŒēŗ§å†›å£«é•æ (Second Class Sergeant Major) insignia é™†å†›äŗŒēŗ§å†›å£«é•æ (Second Class Sergeant Major)
South Korea Army 중사 中士 Jungsa insignia 중사 中士 Jungsa OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class China Army 陆军三级军士长 (Third Class Sergeant Major) insignia 陆军三级军士长 (Third Class Sergeant Major)
South Korea Army ķ•˜ģ‚¬ 下士 Hasa insignia ķ•˜ģ‚¬ 下士 Hasa OR-6 Staff Sergeant China Army é™†å†›äø€ēŗ§äøŠå£« (First Class Master Sergeant) insignia é™†å†›äø€ēŗ§äøŠå£« (First Class Master Sergeant)
South Korea Army ė³‘ģž„ 兵長 Byeongjang insignia ė³‘ģž„ 兵長 Byeongjang OR-4 Corporal China Army 陆军中士 (Sergeant) insignia 陆军中士 (Sergeant)
South Korea Army ģƒė“±ė³‘ äøŠē­‰å…µ Sangdeungbyeong insignia ģƒė“±ė³‘ äøŠē­‰å…µ Sangdeungbyeong OR-3 Private 1st Class China Army 陆军下士 (Corporal) insignia 陆军下士 (Corporal)
South Korea Army ģ¼ė“±ė³‘ 一等兵 Ildeungbyeong insignia ģ¼ė“±ė³‘ 一等兵 Ildeungbyeong OR-2 Private China Army é™†å†›äøŠē­‰å…µ (Private First Class) insignia é™†å†›äøŠē­‰å…µ (Private First Class)
South Korea Army ģ“ė“±ė³‘ äŗŒē­‰å…µ Ideungbyeong insignia ģ“ė“±ė³‘ äŗŒē­‰å…µ Ideungbyeong OR-1 Private China Army 陆军列兵 (Private) insignia 陆军列兵 (Private)

Air Force

Rank Ladder Highest first · 18 of 19 matched
šŸ‡°šŸ‡· South Korea · Air Force NATO code
Equivalent in
Officers
South Korea Air Force ģ›ģˆ˜ å…ƒåø„ Wonsu insignia ģ›ģˆ˜ å…ƒåø„ Wonsu OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army
South Korea Air Force ėŒ€ģž„ 大將 Daejang insignia ėŒ€ģž„ 大將 Daejang OF-9 General China Air Force ē©ŗå†›äøŠå°† (General) insignia ē©ŗå†›äøŠå°† (General)
South Korea Air Force ģ¤‘ģž„ äø­å°‡ Jungjang insignia ģ¤‘ģž„ äø­å°‡ Jungjang OF-8 Lieutenant General China Air Force 空军中将 (Lieutenant General) insignia 空军中将 (Lieutenant General)
South Korea Air Force ģ†Œģž„ 小將 Sojang insignia ģ†Œģž„ 小將 Sojang OF-7 Major General China Air Force 空军少将 (Major General) insignia 空军少将 (Major General)
South Korea Air Force ģ¤€ģž„ 准將 Junjang insignia ģ¤€ģž„ 准將 Junjang OF-6 Brigadier General China Air Force 空军大栔 (Senior Colonel) insignia 空军大栔 (Senior Colonel)
South Korea Air Force ėŒ€ė ¹ 大領 Daeryeong insignia ėŒ€ė ¹ 大領 Daeryeong OF-5 Colonel China Air Force ē©ŗå†›äøŠę ” (Colonel) insignia ē©ŗå†›äøŠę ” (Colonel)
South Korea Air Force 중령 中領 Jungnyeong insignia 중령 中領 Jungnyeong OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel China Air Force 空军中栔 (Lieutenant Colonel) insignia 空军中栔 (Lieutenant Colonel)
South Korea Air Force ģ†Œė ¹ 少領 Soryeong insignia ģ†Œė ¹ 少領 Soryeong OF-3 Major / Commandant China Air Force 空军少栔 (Major) insignia 空军少栔 (Major)
South Korea Air Force ėŒ€ģœ„ 大尉 Daewi insignia ėŒ€ģœ„ 大尉 Daewi OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant China Air Force ē©ŗå†›äøŠå°‰ (Captain) insignia ē©ŗå†›äøŠå°‰ (Captain)
South Korea Air Force ģ¤‘ģœ„ äø­å°‰ Jungwi insignia ģ¤‘ģœ„ äø­å°‰ Jungwi OF-1 Lieutenant China Air Force 空军中尉 (First Lieutenant) insignia 空军中尉 (First Lieutenant) China Air Force 空军少尉 (Second Lieutenant) insignia 空军少尉 (Second Lieutenant)
South Korea Air Force ģ†Œģœ„ 小尉 Sowi insignia ģ†Œģœ„ 小尉 Sowi OF-1 Lieutenant China Air Force 空军中尉 (First Lieutenant) insignia 空军中尉 (First Lieutenant) China Air Force 空军少尉 (Second Lieutenant) insignia 空军少尉 (Second Lieutenant)
Enlisted ranks
South Korea Air Force 원사 元士 Wonsa insignia 원사 元士 Wonsa OR-9 Sergeant Major China Air Force 空军一级军士长 (Master sergeant first class) insignia 空军一级军士长 (Master sergeant first class)
South Korea Air Force ģƒģ‚¬ 上士 Sangsa insignia ģƒģ‚¬ 上士 Sangsa OR-8 1st Sergeant China Air Force ē©ŗå†›äŗŒēŗ§å†›å£«é•æ (Master sergeant second class) insignia ē©ŗå†›äŗŒēŗ§å†›å£«é•æ (Master sergeant second class)
South Korea Air Force 중사 中士 Jungsa insignia 중사 中士 Jungsa OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class China Air Force 空军三级军士长 (Master sergeant third class) insignia 空军三级军士长 (Master sergeant third class)
South Korea Air Force ķ•˜ģ‚¬ 下士 Hasa insignia ķ•˜ģ‚¬ 下士 Hasa OR-6 Staff Sergeant China Air Force ē©ŗå†›äø€ēŗ§äøŠå£« (Technical sergeant) insignia ē©ŗå†›äø€ēŗ§äøŠå£« (Technical sergeant)
South Korea Air Force ė³‘ģž„ 兵長 Byeongjang insignia ė³‘ģž„ 兵長 Byeongjang OR-4 Corporal China Air Force 空军中士 (Sergeant) insignia 空军中士 (Sergeant)
South Korea Air Force ģƒė“±ė³‘ äøŠē­‰å…µ Sangdeungbyeong insignia ģƒė“±ė³‘ äøŠē­‰å…µ Sangdeungbyeong OR-3 Private 1st Class China Air Force 空军下士 (Corporal) insignia 空军下士 (Corporal)
South Korea Air Force ģ¼ė“±ė³‘ 一等兵 Ildeungbyeong insignia ģ¼ė“±ė³‘ 一等兵 Ildeungbyeong OR-2 Private China Air Force ē©ŗå†›äøŠē­‰å…µ (Airman First Class) insignia ē©ŗå†›äøŠē­‰å…µ (Airman First Class)
South Korea Air Force ģ“ė“±ė³‘ äŗŒē­‰å…µ Ideungbyeong insignia ģ“ė“±ė³‘ äŗŒē­‰å…µ Ideungbyeong OR-1 Private China Air Force ē©ŗå†›åˆ—å…µ (Airman) insignia ē©ŗå†›åˆ—å…µ (Airman)

Marines

Rank Ladder Highest first · 18 of 18 matched
šŸ‡°šŸ‡· South Korea · Marines NATO code
Equivalent in
China has no Marines — equivalents from its Army.
Officers
South Korea Marines ėŒ€ģž„ 大將 Daejang insignia ėŒ€ģž„ 大將 Daejang OF-9 General China Army é™†å†›äøŠå°† (General) insignia é™†å†›äøŠå°† (General)
South Korea Marines ģ¤‘ģž„ äø­å°‡ Jungjang insignia ģ¤‘ģž„ äø­å°‡ Jungjang OF-8 Lieutenant General China Army 陆军中将 (Lieutenant General) insignia 陆军中将 (Lieutenant General)
South Korea Marines ģ†Œģž„ 小將 Sojang insignia ģ†Œģž„ 小將 Sojang OF-7 Major General China Army 陆军少将 (Major General) insignia 陆军少将 (Major General)
South Korea Marines ģ¤€ģž„ 准將 Junjang insignia ģ¤€ģž„ 准將 Junjang OF-6 Brigadier General China Army 陆军大栔 (Senior Colonel) insignia 陆军大栔 (Senior Colonel)
South Korea Marines ėŒ€ė ¹ 大領 Daeryeong insignia ėŒ€ė ¹ 大領 Daeryeong OF-5 Colonel China Army é™†å†›äøŠę ” (Colonel) insignia é™†å†›äøŠę ” (Colonel)
South Korea Marines 중령 中領 Jungnyeong insignia 중령 中領 Jungnyeong OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel China Army 陆军中栔 (Lieutenant Colonel) insignia 陆军中栔 (Lieutenant Colonel)
South Korea Marines ģ†Œė ¹ 少領 Soryeong insignia ģ†Œė ¹ 少領 Soryeong OF-3 Major / Commandant China Army 陆军少栔 (Major) insignia 陆军少栔 (Major)
South Korea Marines ėŒ€ģœ„ 大尉 Daewi insignia ėŒ€ģœ„ 大尉 Daewi OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant China Army é™†å†›äøŠå°‰ (Captain) insignia é™†å†›äøŠå°‰ (Captain)
South Korea Marines ģ¤‘ģœ„ äø­å°‰ Jungwi insignia ģ¤‘ģœ„ äø­å°‰ Jungwi OF-1 Lieutenant China Army 陆军中尉 (First Lieutenant) insignia 陆军中尉 (First Lieutenant) China Army 陆军少尉 (Second Lieutenant) insignia 陆军少尉 (Second Lieutenant)
South Korea Marines ģ†Œģœ„ 小尉 Sowi insignia ģ†Œģœ„ 小尉 Sowi OF-1 Lieutenant China Army 陆军中尉 (First Lieutenant) insignia 陆军中尉 (First Lieutenant) China Army 陆军少尉 (Second Lieutenant) insignia 陆军少尉 (Second Lieutenant)
Enlisted ranks
South Korea Marines 원사 元士 Wonsa insignia 원사 元士 Wonsa OR-9 Sergeant Major China Army 陆军一级军士长 (First Class Sergeant Major) insignia 陆军一级军士长 (First Class Sergeant Major)
South Korea Marines ģƒģ‚¬ 上士 Sangsa insignia ģƒģ‚¬ 上士 Sangsa OR-8 1st Sergeant China Army é™†å†›äŗŒēŗ§å†›å£«é•æ (Second Class Sergeant Major) insignia é™†å†›äŗŒēŗ§å†›å£«é•æ (Second Class Sergeant Major)
South Korea Marines 중사 中士 Jungsa insignia 중사 中士 Jungsa OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class China Army 陆军三级军士长 (Third Class Sergeant Major) insignia 陆军三级军士长 (Third Class Sergeant Major)
South Korea Marines ķ•˜ģ‚¬ 下士 Hasa insignia ķ•˜ģ‚¬ 下士 Hasa OR-6 Staff Sergeant China Army é™†å†›äø€ēŗ§äøŠå£« (First Class Master Sergeant) insignia é™†å†›äø€ēŗ§äøŠå£« (First Class Master Sergeant)
South Korea Marines ė³‘ģž„ 兵長 Byeongjang insignia ė³‘ģž„ 兵長 Byeongjang OR-4 Corporal China Army 陆军中士 (Sergeant) insignia 陆军中士 (Sergeant)
South Korea Marines ģƒė“±ė³‘ äøŠē­‰å…µ Sangdeungbyeong insignia ģƒė“±ė³‘ äøŠē­‰å…µ Sangdeungbyeong OR-3 Private 1st Class China Army 陆军下士 (Corporal) insignia 陆军下士 (Corporal)
South Korea Marines ģ¼ė“±ė³‘ 一等兵 Ildeungbyeong insignia ģ¼ė“±ė³‘ 一等兵 Ildeungbyeong OR-2 Private China Army é™†å†›äøŠē­‰å…µ (Private First Class) insignia é™†å†›äøŠē­‰å…µ (Private First Class)
South Korea Marines ģ“ė“±ė³‘ äŗŒē­‰å…µ Ideungbyeong insignia ģ“ė“±ė³‘ äŗŒē­‰å…µ Ideungbyeong OR-1 Private China Army 陆军列兵 (Private) insignia 陆军列兵 (Private)

Overview

The armed forces of South Korea, known as the "Republic of Korea Armed Forces" or "ėŒ€ķ•œėÆ¼źµ­ źµ­źµ°," are composed of several branches, each with specific responsibilities:

  • Republic of Korea Army (ėŒ€ķ•œėÆ¼źµ­ 윔군): The Republic of Korea Army is responsible for land-based military operations, including infantry, armored units, artillery, and support units. It plays a crucial role in national defense and security.
  • Republic of Korea Navy (ėŒ€ķ•œėÆ¼źµ­ ķ•“źµ°): The Republic of Korea Navy focuses on maritime defense and security, operating various vessels, including destroyers, submarines, and patrol boats, to protect South Korea's extensive coastline and maritime interests in the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan.
  • Republic of Korea Air Force (ėŒ€ķ•œėÆ¼źµ­ 공군): The Republic of Korea Air Force is responsible for aerial defense and operations, with fighter aircraft, transport planes, and helicopters ensuring air superiority and national defense.
South Korea Military
South Korea military personnel in dress uniforms
Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) and other open sources.
Insignia image credits