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Ranks· 🇰🇷 South Korea

South Korea vs Japan Military Ranks

The South Korean Army has 19 ranks — 11 officer and 8 enlisted — from 이등병 二等兵 Ideungbyeong up to 원수 元帥 Wonsu. Below: all 75 ranks across 4 branches (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines), aligned tier by tier with their Japanese equivalents.

Branches

Ranks documented

Active personnel

500K

Army

Rank Ladder Highest first · 16 of 19 matched

🇰🇷 South Korea · Army	NATO code	Equivalent in
Officers
원수 元帥 Wonsu	OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army	–
대장 大將 Daejang	OF-9 General	幕僚長たる陸将 Bakuryōchō-taru-rikushō
중장 中將 Jungjang	OF-8 Lieutenant General	陸将 Rikushō
소장 小將 Sojang	OF-7 Major General	陸将補 Rikushō-ho
준장 准將 Junjang	OF-6 Brigadier General	–
대령 大領 Daeryeong	OF-5 Colonel	1等陸佐 Ittō rikusa
중령 中領 Jungnyeong	OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel	2等陸佐 Nitō rikusa
소령 少領 Soryeong	OF-3 Major / Commandant	3等陸佐 Santō rikusa
대위 大尉 Daewi	OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant	1等陸尉 Ittō rikui
중위 中尉 Jungwi	OF-1 Lieutenant	2等陸尉 Nitō rikui 3等陸尉 Santō rikui 准陸尉 Jun rikui
소위 小尉 Sowi	OF-1 Lieutenant	2等陸尉 Nitō rikui 3等陸尉 Santō rikui 准陸尉 Jun rikui
Enlisted ranks
원사 元士 Wonsa	OR-9 Sergeant Major	陸曹長 Rikusōchō
상사 上士 Sangsa	OR-8 1st Sergeant	1等陸曹 Ittō rikusō
중사 中士 Jungsa	OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class	2等陸曹 Nitō rikusō
하사 下士 Hasa	OR-6 Staff Sergeant	3等陸曹 Santō rikusō
병장 兵長 Byeongjang	OR-4 Corporal	–
상등병 上等兵 Sangdeungbyeong	OR-3 Private 1st Class	陸士長 Rikushichō
일등병 一等兵 Ildeungbyeong	OR-2 Private	1等陸士 Ittō rikushi
이등병 二等兵 Ideungbyeong	OR-1 Private	2等陸士 Nitō rikushi

Navy

Rank Ladder Highest first · 16 of 19 matched

🇰🇷 South Korea · Navy	NATO code	Equivalent in
Officers
원수 元帥 Wonsu	OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army	–
대장 大將 Daejang	OF-9 General	幕僚長たる海将 Bakuryōchō-taru-kaishō
중장 中將 Jungjang	OF-8 Lieutenant General	海将 Kaishō
소장 小將 Sojang	OF-7 Major General	海将補 Kaishō-ho
준장 准將 Junjang	OF-6 Brigadier General	–
대령 大領 Daeryeong	OF-5 Colonel	1等海佐 Ittō kaisa
중령 中領 Jungnyeong	OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel	2等海佐 Nitō kaisa
소령 少領 Soryeong	OF-3 Major / Commandant	3等海佐 Santō kaisa
대위 大尉 Daewi	OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant	1等海尉 Ittō kaii
중위 中尉 Jungwi	OF-1 Lieutenant	2等海尉 Nitō kaii 3等海尉 Santō kaii 准海尉 Jun kaii
소위 小尉 Sowi	OF-1 Lieutenant	2等海尉 Nitō kaii 3等海尉 Santō kaii 准海尉 Jun kaii
Enlisted ranks
원사 元士 Wonsa	OR-9 Sergeant Major	海曹長 Kaisōchō
상사 上士 Sangsa	OR-8 1st Sergeant	1等海曹 Ittō kaisō
중사 中士 Jungsa	OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class	2等海曹 Nitō kaisō
하사 下士 Hasa	OR-6 Staff Sergeant	3等海曹 Santō kaisō
병장 兵長 Byeongjang	OR-4 Corporal	–
상등병 上等兵 Sangdeungbyeong	OR-3 Private 1st Class	海士長 Kaishichō
일등병 一等兵 Ildeungbyeong	OR-2 Private	1等海士 Ittō kaishi
이등병 二等兵 Ideungbyeong	OR-1 Private	2等海士 Nitō kaishi

Air Force

Rank Ladder Highest first · 16 of 19 matched

🇰🇷 South Korea · Air Force	NATO code	Equivalent in
Officers
원수 元帥 Wonsu	OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army	–
대장 大將 Daejang	OF-9 General	幕僚長たる空将 Bakuryōchō-taru-kūshō
중장 中將 Jungjang	OF-8 Lieutenant General	空将 Kūshō
소장 小將 Sojang	OF-7 Major General	空将補 Kūshō-ho
준장 准將 Junjang	OF-6 Brigadier General	–
대령 大領 Daeryeong	OF-5 Colonel	1等空佐 Ittō kūsa
중령 中領 Jungnyeong	OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel	2等空佐 Nitō kūsa
소령 少領 Soryeong	OF-3 Major / Commandant	3等空佐 Santō kūsa
대위 大尉 Daewi	OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant	1等空尉 Ittō kūi
중위 中尉 Jungwi	OF-1 Lieutenant	2等空尉 Nitō kūi 3等空尉 Santō kūi 准空尉 Jun kūi
소위 小尉 Sowi	OF-1 Lieutenant	2等空尉 Nitō kūi 3等空尉 Santō kūi 准空尉 Jun kūi
Enlisted ranks
원사 元士 Wonsa	OR-9 Sergeant Major	空曹長 Kūsōchō
상사 上士 Sangsa	OR-8 1st Sergeant	1等空曹 Ittō kūsō
중사 中士 Jungsa	OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class	2等空曹 Nitō kūsō
하사 下士 Hasa	OR-6 Staff Sergeant	3等空曹 Santō kūsō
병장 兵長 Byeongjang	OR-4 Corporal	–
상등병 上等兵 Sangdeungbyeong	OR-3 Private 1st Class	空士長 Kūshichō
일등병 一等兵 Ildeungbyeong	OR-2 Private	1等空士 Ittō kūshi
이등병 二等兵 Ideungbyeong	OR-1 Private	2等空士 Nitō kūshi

Marines

Rank Ladder Highest first · 16 of 18 matched

🇰🇷 South Korea · Marines	NATO code	Equivalent in Japan has no Marines — equivalents from its Army.
Officers
대장 大將 Daejang	OF-9 General	幕僚長たる陸将 Bakuryōchō-taru-rikushō
중장 中將 Jungjang	OF-8 Lieutenant General	陸将 Rikushō
소장 小將 Sojang	OF-7 Major General	陸将補 Rikushō-ho
준장 准將 Junjang	OF-6 Brigadier General	–
대령 大領 Daeryeong	OF-5 Colonel	1等陸佐 Ittō rikusa
중령 中領 Jungnyeong	OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel	2等陸佐 Nitō rikusa
소령 少領 Soryeong	OF-3 Major / Commandant	3等陸佐 Santō rikusa
대위 大尉 Daewi	OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant	1等陸尉 Ittō rikui
중위 中尉 Jungwi	OF-1 Lieutenant	2等陸尉 Nitō rikui 3等陸尉 Santō rikui 准陸尉 Jun rikui
소위 小尉 Sowi	OF-1 Lieutenant	2等陸尉 Nitō rikui 3等陸尉 Santō rikui 准陸尉 Jun rikui
Enlisted ranks
원사 元士 Wonsa	OR-9 Sergeant Major	陸曹長 Rikusōchō
상사 上士 Sangsa	OR-8 1st Sergeant	1等陸曹 Ittō rikusō
중사 中士 Jungsa	OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class	2等陸曹 Nitō rikusō
하사 下士 Hasa	OR-6 Staff Sergeant	3等陸曹 Santō rikusō
병장 兵長 Byeongjang	OR-4 Corporal	–
상등병 上等兵 Sangdeungbyeong	OR-3 Private 1st Class	陸士長 Rikushichō
일등병 一等兵 Ildeungbyeong	OR-2 Private	1等陸士 Ittō rikushi
이등병 二等兵 Ideungbyeong	OR-1 Private	2等陸士 Nitō rikushi

Overview

The armed forces of South Korea, known as the "Republic of Korea Armed Forces" or "대한민국 국군," are composed of several branches, each with specific responsibilities:

Republic of Korea Army (대한민국 육군): 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 (대한민국 해군): 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 (대한민국 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

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