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.

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[]

These ranks are honorary ranks and are not considered part of the main rank scheme.^{[citation needed]}

North Korean rank	North Korean insignia[1]
대원수 Tae wonsu (Grand Marshal)[a]
공화국원수 Konghwaguk Wonsu (Marshal of the Republic)[b]

Officer ranks[]

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 United States and British rank insignia traditions.

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

Army ranks[]

Rank group	General/flag officers										Field/senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Korean People's Army Ground Force v t
	인민군원수 Inmingun-wonsu	차수 Chasu	대장 Daejang		상장 Sangjang		중장 Chungjang		소장 Sojang		대좌 Daechwa	상좌 Sangjwa	중좌 Chungjwa		소좌 Sojwa		대위 Taewi		상위 Daewi		중위 Chungwi		소위 Sowi
Republic of Korea Army[2] v t
	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										Field/senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet

Air force ranks[]

Rank group	General/flag officers										Field/senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Korean People's Army Air Force v t
			대장 Daejang		상장 Sangjang		중장 Chungjang		소장 Sojang		대좌 Daechwa	상좌 Sangjwa	중좌 Chungjwa		소좌 Sojwa		대위 Taewi		상위 Daewi		중위 Chungwi		소위 Sowi
Republic of Korea Air Force v t
	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										Field/senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet

Naval ranks[]

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										Field/senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Korean People's Army Naval Force v t
			대장 Daejang		상장 Sangjang		중장 Chungjang		소장 Sojang		대좌 Daechwa	상좌 Sangjwa	중좌 Chungjwa		소좌 Sojwa		대위 Taewi		상위 Daewi		중위 Chungwi		소위 Sowi
Republic of Korea Navy[3] v t
	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										Field/senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet

Marine Corps[]

Rank group	General/flag officers										Field/senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Republic of Korea Marine Corps v t
			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										Field/senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet

Warrant officer ranks[]

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.

Equivalent NATO rank	WO-5		WO-4		WO-3		WO-2		WO-1
Republic of Korea Army v t	No equivalent
									Jun-wi 준위 Warrant officer
Republic of Korea Navy v t	No equivalent
									Jun-wi 준위 Warrant Officer
Republic of Korea Marine Corps v t	No equivalent
									Jun-wi 준위 Warrant Officer
Republic of Korea Air Force v t	No equivalent
									Jun-wi 준위 Warrant Officer
Equivalent NATO rank	WO-5		WO-4		WO-3		WO-2		WO-1

Enlisted ranks[]

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 "Corporal" and "Sergeant" in English, but they are not considered non-commissioned officer ranks, though they are treated as one if they hold an NCO position. Ideungbyeong (Korean: 이등병; Hanja: 2等兵), Ildeungbyeong (일등병; 1等兵), and Sangdeungbyeong (상등병; 上等兵) are commonly referred to as Ibyeong, Ilbyeong, and Sangbyeong respectively.

Army ranks[]

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Korean People's Army Ground Force v t
	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[2] v t
	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[]

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Korean People's Army Air Force v t																																			No equivalent
	T'ŭkmu-sangsa 특무상사						Sangsa 상사		Chungsa 중사		Hasa 하사						Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa 상급병사						Chungŭp-pyŏngsa 중급병사				Hagŭp-pyŏngsa 하급병사		Chŏnsa 전사
	Sergeant major						Master sergeant		Sergeant first class		Staff sergeant						Sergeant						Corporal				Airman first class		Airman
Republic of Korea Air Force v t																																			No equivalent
	Wonsa (원사)						Sangsa (상사)		Jungsa (중사)		Hasa (하사)						Byeongjang (병장)						Sangdeungbyeong (상등병)				Ildeungbyeong (일등병)		Ideungbyeong (이등병)
	Chief Master Sergeant						Senior Master Sergeant		Master Sergeant		Technical Sergeant						Staff Sergeant						Senior Airman				Airman First Class		Airman
Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted

Navy ranks[]

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 Army Naval Force v t
	T'ŭkmu-sangsa 특무상사						Sangsa 상사		Chungsa 중사		Hasa 하사						Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa 상급병사						Chungŭp-pyŏngsa 중급병사				Hagŭp-pyŏngsa 하급병사		Chŏnsa 전사
	Master chief petty officer						Senior Chief Petty Officer		Chief Petty Officer		Petty Officer 1st Class						Petty Officer 2nd Class						Petty Officer 3rd Class				Seaman		Seaman Recruit
Republic of Korea Navy[3] v t
	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[]

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Republic of Korea Marine Corps v t
	Wonsa 원사						Sangsa 상사		Jungsa 중사		Hasa 하사						Byeongjang 병장						Sangdeungbyeong 상병				Ildeungbyeong 일등병		Ideungbyeong 이등병
	Sergeant Major						Master Sergeant		Gunnery Sergeant		Staff Sergeant						Sergeant						Corporal				Lance Corporal		Private
Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted

See also[]

• Comparative military ranks
• Comparative army officer ranks of Asia

Notes[]

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.

References[]

• "군인사법, 시행 2021. 4. 13., 법률 제18000호, 2021. 4. 13., 일부개정" [Military Justice Act, Enforcement April 13, 2021, Act No. 18000, April 13, 2021, partially amended]. law.go.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 19 May 2021.