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Ranks· 🇰🇷 South Korea

South Korean 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), with insignia and NATO-code equivalents.

Branches

Ranks documented

Active personnel

500K

Army

Rank Ladder Highest first · 19 of 19 matched

🇰🇷 South Korea · Army	NATO code	Equivalent in
Officers
원수 元帥 Wonsu	OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army	General of the Army
대장 大將 Daejang	OF-9 General	General
중장 中將 Jungjang	OF-8 Lieutenant General	Lieutenant general
소장 小將 Sojang	OF-7 Major General	Major general
준장 准將 Junjang	OF-6 Brigadier General	Brigadier general
대령 大領 Daeryeong	OF-5 Colonel	Colonel
중령 中領 Jungnyeong	OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel	Lieutenant colonel
소령 少領 Soryeong	OF-3 Major / Commandant	Major
대위 大尉 Daewi	OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant	Captain
중위 中尉 Jungwi	OF-1 Lieutenant	First lieutenant Second lieutenant
소위 小尉 Sowi	OF-1 Lieutenant	First lieutenant Second lieutenant
Enlisted ranks
원사 元士 Wonsa	OR-9 Sergeant Major	Command sergeant major Sergeant major
상사 上士 Sangsa	OR-8 1st Sergeant	First sergeant Master sergeant
중사 中士 Jungsa	OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class	Sergeant first class
하사 下士 Hasa	OR-6 Staff Sergeant	Staff sergeant
병장 兵長 Byeongjang	OR-4 Corporal	Specialist Corporal
상등병 上等兵 Sangdeungbyeong	OR-3 Private 1st Class	Private first class
일등병 一等兵 Ildeungbyeong	OR-2 Private	Private
이등병 二等兵 Ideungbyeong	OR-1 Private	Private

Navy

Rank Ladder Highest first · 19 of 19 matched

🇰🇷 South Korea · Navy	NATO code	Equivalent in
Officers
원수 元帥 Wonsu	OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army	Fleet admiral
대장 大將 Daejang	OF-9 General	Admiral
중장 中將 Jungjang	OF-8 Lieutenant General	Vice admiral
소장 小將 Sojang	OF-7 Major General	Rear admiral
준장 准將 Junjang	OF-6 Brigadier General	Rear admiral (lower half)
대령 大領 Daeryeong	OF-5 Colonel	Captain
중령 中領 Jungnyeong	OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel	Commander
소령 少領 Soryeong	OF-3 Major / Commandant	Lieutenant commander
대위 大尉 Daewi	OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant	Lieutenant
중위 中尉 Jungwi	OF-1 Lieutenant	Lieutenant (junior grade) Ensign
소위 小尉 Sowi	OF-1 Lieutenant	Lieutenant (junior grade) Ensign
Enlisted ranks
원사 元士 Wonsa	OR-9 Sergeant Major	Command master chief petty officer Master chief petty officer
상사 上士 Sangsa	OR-8 1st Sergeant	Command senior chief petty officer Senior chief petty officer
중사 中士 Jungsa	OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class	Chief petty officer
하사 下士 Hasa	OR-6 Staff Sergeant	Petty officer first class
병장 兵長 Byeongjang	OR-4 Corporal	Petty officer third class
상등병 上等兵 Sangdeungbyeong	OR-3 Private 1st Class	Seaman
일등병 一等兵 Ildeungbyeong	OR-2 Private	Seaman apprentice
이등병 二等兵 Ideungbyeong	OR-1 Private	Seaman recruit

Air Force

Rank Ladder Highest first · 19 of 19 matched

🇰🇷 South Korea · Air Force	NATO code	Equivalent in
Officers
원수 元帥 Wonsu	OF-10 Marshal / General of the Army	General of the Air Force
대장 大將 Daejang	OF-9 General	General
중장 中將 Jungjang	OF-8 Lieutenant General	Lieutenant general
소장 小將 Sojang	OF-7 Major General	Major general
준장 准將 Junjang	OF-6 Brigadier General	Brigadier general
대령 大領 Daeryeong	OF-5 Colonel	Colonel
중령 中領 Jungnyeong	OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel	Lieutenant colonel
소령 少領 Soryeong	OF-3 Major / Commandant	Major
대위 大尉 Daewi	OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant	Captain
중위 中尉 Jungwi	OF-1 Lieutenant	First lieutenant Second lieutenant
소위 小尉 Sowi	OF-1 Lieutenant	First lieutenant Second lieutenant
Enlisted ranks
원사 元士 Wonsa	OR-9 Sergeant Major	Command chief master sergeant First sergeant Chief master sergeant
상사 上士 Sangsa	OR-8 1st Sergeant	First sergeant Senior master sergeant
중사 中士 Jungsa	OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class	First sergeant Master sergeant
하사 下士 Hasa	OR-6 Staff Sergeant	Technical sergeant
병장 兵長 Byeongjang	OR-4 Corporal	Senior airman
상등병 上等兵 Sangdeungbyeong	OR-3 Private 1st Class	Airman first class
일등병 一等兵 Ildeungbyeong	OR-2 Private	Airman
이등병 二等兵 Ideungbyeong	OR-1 Private	Airman basic

Marines

Rank Ladder Highest first · 18 of 18 matched

🇰🇷 South Korea · Marines	NATO code	Equivalent in
Officers
대장 大將 Daejang	OF-9 General	General
중장 中將 Jungjang	OF-8 Lieutenant General	Lieutenant general
소장 小將 Sojang	OF-7 Major General	Major general
준장 准將 Junjang	OF-6 Brigadier General	Brigadier general
대령 大領 Daeryeong	OF-5 Colonel	Colonel
중령 中領 Jungnyeong	OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel	Lieutenant colonel
소령 少領 Soryeong	OF-3 Major / Commandant	Major
대위 大尉 Daewi	OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant	Captain
중위 中尉 Jungwi	OF-1 Lieutenant	First lieutenant Second lieutenant
소위 小尉 Sowi	OF-1 Lieutenant	First lieutenant Second lieutenant
Enlisted ranks
원사 元士 Wonsa	OR-9 Sergeant Major	Sergeant major Master gunnery sergeant
상사 上士 Sangsa	OR-8 1st Sergeant	First sergeant Master sergeant
중사 中士 Jungsa	OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class	Gunnery sergeant
하사 下士 Hasa	OR-6 Staff Sergeant	Staff sergeant
병장 兵長 Byeongjang	OR-4 Corporal	Corporal
상등병 上等兵 Sangdeungbyeong	OR-3 Private 1st Class	Lance corporal
일등병 一等兵 Ildeungbyeong	OR-2 Private	Private first class
이등병 二等兵 Ideungbyeong	OR-1 Private	Private

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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