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Ranks· 🇰🇷 South Korea

South Korea vs North Korea 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 North Korean equivalents.

Branches

Ranks documented

Active personnel

500K

Army

Rank Ladder Highest first · 18 of 19 matched

🇰🇷 South Korea · Army	NATO code	Equivalent in
Officers
원수 元帥 Wonsu	OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army	대원수 Tae wonsu 공화국원수 Konghwaguk Wonsu 인민군원수 Inmingun-wonsu 차수 Chasu
대장 大將 Daejang	OF-9 General	대장 Daejang
중장 中將 Jungjang	OF-8 Lieutenant General	상장 Sangjang
소장 小將 Sojang	OF-7 Major General	중장 Chungjang
준장 准將 Junjang	OF-6 Brigadier General	소장 Sojang
대령 大領 Daeryeong	OF-5 Colonel	대좌 Daechwa 상좌 Sangjwa
중령 中領 Jungnyeong	OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel	중좌 Chungjwa
소령 少領 Soryeong	OF-3 Major / Commandant	소좌 Sojwa
대위 大尉 Daewi	OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant	대위 Taewi
중위 中尉 Jungwi	OF-1 Lieutenant	상위 Sangwi 중위 Chungwi 소위 Sowi
소위 小尉 Sowi	OF-1 Lieutenant	상위 Sangwi 중위 Chungwi 소위 Sowi
Enlisted ranks
원사 元士 Wonsa	OR-9 Sergeant Major	–
상사 上士 Sangsa	OR-8 1st Sergeant	특무상사 T'ŭkmu-sangsa
중사 中士 Jungsa	OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class	상사 Sangsa
하사 下士 Hasa	OR-6 Staff Sergeant	중사 Chungsa
병장 兵長 Byeongjang	OR-4 Corporal	상급병사 Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa
상등병 上等兵 Sangdeungbyeong	OR-3 Private 1st Class	중급병사 Chungŭp-pyŏngsa
일등병 一等兵 Ildeungbyeong	OR-2 Private	하급병사 Hagŭp-pyŏngsa
이등병 二等兵 Ideungbyeong	OR-1 Private	전사 Chŏnsa

Navy

Rank Ladder Highest first · 17 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	대장 Daejang
중장 中將 Jungjang	OF-8 Lieutenant General	상장 Sangjang
소장 小將 Sojang	OF-7 Major General	중장 Chungjang
준장 准將 Junjang	OF-6 Brigadier General	소장 Sojang
대령 大領 Daeryeong	OF-5 Colonel	대좌 Daechwa 상좌 Sangjwa
중령 中領 Jungnyeong	OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel	중좌 Chungjwa
소령 少領 Soryeong	OF-3 Major / Commandant	소좌 Sojwa
대위 大尉 Daewi	OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant	대위 Taewi
중위 中尉 Jungwi	OF-1 Lieutenant	상위 Sangwi 중위 Chungwi 소위 Sowi
소위 小尉 Sowi	OF-1 Lieutenant	상위 Sangwi 중위 Chungwi 소위 Sowi
Enlisted ranks
원사 元士 Wonsa	OR-9 Sergeant Major	–
상사 上士 Sangsa	OR-8 1st Sergeant	특무상사 T'ŭkmu-sangsa
중사 中士 Jungsa	OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class	상사 Sangsa
하사 下士 Hasa	OR-6 Staff Sergeant	중사 Chungsa
병장 兵長 Byeongjang	OR-4 Corporal	상급병사 Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa
상등병 上等兵 Sangdeungbyeong	OR-3 Private 1st Class	중급병사 Chungŭp-pyŏngsa
일등병 一等兵 Ildeungbyeong	OR-2 Private	하급병사 Hagŭp-pyŏngsa
이등병 二等兵 Ideungbyeong	OR-1 Private	전사 Chŏnsa

Air Force

Rank Ladder Highest first · 17 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	대장 Daejang
중장 中將 Jungjang	OF-8 Lieutenant General	상장 Sangjang
소장 小將 Sojang	OF-7 Major General	중장 Chungjang
준장 准將 Junjang	OF-6 Brigadier General	소장 Sojang
대령 大領 Daeryeong	OF-5 Colonel	대좌 Daechwa 상좌 Sangjwa
중령 中領 Jungnyeong	OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel	중좌 Chungjwa
소령 少領 Soryeong	OF-3 Major / Commandant	소좌 Sojwa
대위 大尉 Daewi	OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant	대위 Taewi
중위 中尉 Jungwi	OF-1 Lieutenant	상위 Sangwi 중위 Chungwi 소위 Sowi
소위 小尉 Sowi	OF-1 Lieutenant	상위 Sangwi 중위 Chungwi 소위 Sowi
Enlisted ranks
원사 元士 Wonsa	OR-9 Sergeant Major	–
상사 上士 Sangsa	OR-8 1st Sergeant	특무상사 T'ŭkmu-sangsa
중사 中士 Jungsa	OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class	상사 Sangsa
하사 下士 Hasa	OR-6 Staff Sergeant	중사 Chungsa
병장 兵長 Byeongjang	OR-4 Corporal	상급병사 Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa
상등병 上等兵 Sangdeungbyeong	OR-3 Private 1st Class	중급병사 Chungŭp-pyŏngsa
일등병 一等兵 Ildeungbyeong	OR-2 Private	하급병사 Hagŭp-pyŏngsa
이등병 二等兵 Ideungbyeong	OR-1 Private	전사 Chŏnsa

Marines

Rank Ladder Highest first · 17 of 18 matched

🇰🇷 South Korea · Marines	NATO code	Equivalent in North Korea has no Marines — equivalents from its Army.
Officers
대장 大將 Daejang	OF-9 General	대장 Daejang
중장 中將 Jungjang	OF-8 Lieutenant General	상장 Sangjang
소장 小將 Sojang	OF-7 Major General	중장 Chungjang
준장 准將 Junjang	OF-6 Brigadier General	소장 Sojang
대령 大領 Daeryeong	OF-5 Colonel	대좌 Daechwa 상좌 Sangjwa
중령 中領 Jungnyeong	OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel	중좌 Chungjwa
소령 少領 Soryeong	OF-3 Major / Commandant	소좌 Sojwa
대위 大尉 Daewi	OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant	대위 Taewi
중위 中尉 Jungwi	OF-1 Lieutenant	상위 Sangwi 중위 Chungwi 소위 Sowi
소위 小尉 Sowi	OF-1 Lieutenant	상위 Sangwi 중위 Chungwi 소위 Sowi
Enlisted ranks
원사 元士 Wonsa	OR-9 Sergeant Major	–
상사 上士 Sangsa	OR-8 1st Sergeant	특무상사 T'ŭkmu-sangsa
중사 中士 Jungsa	OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class	상사 Sangsa
하사 下士 Hasa	OR-6 Staff Sergeant	중사 Chungsa
병장 兵長 Byeongjang	OR-4 Corporal	상급병사 Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa
상등병 上等兵 Sangdeungbyeong	OR-3 Private 1st Class	중급병사 Chungŭp-pyŏngsa
일등병 一等兵 Ildeungbyeong	OR-2 Private	하급병사 Hagŭp-pyŏngsa
이등병 二等兵 Ideungbyeong	OR-1 Private	전사 Chŏnsa

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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