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 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 |
[]
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 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 |
No equivalent |
|||||||||
Jun-wi 준위 Warrant officer
| ||||||||||
Republic of Korea Navy |
No equivalent |
|||||||||
Jun-wi 준위 Warrant Officer
| ||||||||||
Republic of Korea Marine Corps |
No equivalent |
|||||||||
Jun-wi 준위 Warrant Officer
| ||||||||||
Republic of Korea Air Force |
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 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 |
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 |
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 |
[]
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 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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[]
- ^ image
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Army Insignia". army.mil.kr. Republic of Korea Army. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
- "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.
- Military ranks of North Korea
- Military ranks of South Korea
- Military insignia
- Military comparisons