View source for Republic of Korea Army

{{Use American English|date=May 2024}}
{{Short description|Land branch of the South Korean military}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = Republic of Korea Army
| native_name = 대한민국 육군<br />''Daehanminguk Yuk-gun''
| image = Seal of the Republic of Korea Army.svg
| image_size = 170px
| caption = Seal of the Republic of Korea Army
| start_date = {{start date and age|1948|09|5}}
| dates = 
| country = {{flag|South Korea}}
| branch = 
| type = [[Army]]
| role = [[Land warfare]]
| size = 365,000 personnel {{small|(2022)}}<ref name=2020DWP>{{cite web|title=2022 Defence White Paper|date=December 2022|url=https://www.mnd.go.kr/user/mnd/upload/pblictn/PBLICTNEBOOK_202302161200208490.pdf|access-date=2023-02-16|archive-date=2023-02-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216075613/https://www.mnd.go.kr/user/mnd/upload/pblictn/PBLICTNEBOOK_202302161200208490.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| command_structure = {{Armed forces|South Korea}}
| garrison = {{nowrap|[[Gyeryong]], [[South Chungcheong Province|South Chungcheong]], [[South Korea]]}}
| garrison_label = 
| nickname = "ROK Army", "ROKA", "South Korean Army"
| patron = 
| motto = ''강한친구 대한민국 육군''<br />{{small|("A Strong Friend, Republic of Korea Army")}}
| colors = 
| colors_label = 
| march = ''육군가'' <br /> {{small|("Army Anthem")}}
| mascot = 호국이 {{small|(''Hogugi'')}}
| equipment = 
| equipment_label = 
| battles = {{bulletedlist|[[Yeosu–Suncheon rebellion]]|[[Korean War]]|[[Korean DMZ Conflict]]|[[May 16 coup|May 16 Coup'détat]]|[[Vietnam War]]|[[Coup d'état of December Twelfth]]|[[Gwangju Uprising]]|[[Gulf War|Persian Gulf War]]|[[1999 East Timorese crisis]]|[[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|War in Afghanistan]]|[[Iraq War]]}}
| anniversaries = 
| decorations = 
| battle_honours = 
| website = {{URL|https://army.mil.kr/}}
<!-- Commanders -->| commander1 = {{Flagicon image|Flag of the President of South Korea.svg|size=25px}} [[Lee Jae-Myung]]
| commander1_label = [[President of South Korea|President]]
| commander2 = {{Flagicon image|Flag of the Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Korea.svg|size=25px}} [[Ahn Gyu-back]]
| commander2_label = [[Ministry of National Defense (South Korea)|Minister of National Defense]]
| commander3 = {{Flagicon image|Flag of the Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Army.png|size=25px}} [[Jiang (rank)#South Korea|General]] [[Kim Kyu-ha]]
| commander3_label = [[Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Army|Chief of Staff of the Army]]
| commander4 = {{Flagicon image|Flag of the Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Army.png|size=25px}} [[Jiang (rank)#South Korea|General]] [[Ko Hyun Seok]]
| commander4_label = [[Vice Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Army|Vice Chief of Staff of the Army]]
| notable_commanders = <!-- Insignia -->
| identification_symbol = [[File:Flag of the Republic of Korea Army.svg|border|center|150px]]
| identification_symbol_label = Flag
| identification_symbol_2 = 
| identification_symbol_2_label = 
| identification_symbol_3 = 
| identification_symbol_3_label = 
| aircraft_attack = 
| aircraft_bomber = 
| aircraft_electronic = 
| aircraft_fighter = 
| aircraft_interceptor = 
| aircraft_patrol = 
| aircraft_recon = 
| aircraft_trainer = 
| aircraft_transport = 
}}

The '''Republic of Korea Army''' ('''ROKA'''; {{korean|대한민국 육군|大韓民國陸軍|Daehanminguk Yukgun}}), also known as the '''ROK Army''' or '''South Korean Army''', is the army of [[South Korea]], responsible for ground-based warfare. It is the largest of the military branches of the [[Republic of Korea Armed Forces]] with 400,000 members as of 2025. This size is [[Conscription in South Korea|maintained through conscription]]: All able-bodied South Korean males must complete military service (18 months for the army, auxiliary police, and marines, 20 months for the navy and conscripted firefighters, 21 months for the air force and social service, and 36 months for alternative service) between the ages of 18 and 35.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2011/10/south-korea-taking-the-right-steps-toward-defense-reform|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111021060623/http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2011/10/South-Korea-Taking-the-Right-Steps-Toward-Defense-Reform|url-status=unfit|archive-date=October 21, 2011|title=South Korea: Taking the Right Steps to Defense Reform|first=Bruce|last=Klingner|website=The Heritage Foundation}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Koreansoldiers1898.jpg|thumb|Soldiers of the Imperial Korean Army in 1898]]
[[File:The American Soldier, 1966 - H. Charles McBarron.jpg|thumb|US Army drawing showing ROKA soldiers fighting in the Vietnam War, 1966]]
[[File:57mm-AT-gun-Korea-1950.JPG|thumb|ROKA soldiers with a [[Ordnance QF 6-pounder|57 mm anti-tank gun]] during the Korean War, 1950]]
The Republic of Korea Army traces its lineage back to the [[Gwangmu Reform]], when the ''[[Pyŏlgigun]]'' was established by Emperor [[Gojong of Korea|Gojong]] in 1881 during [[Korean Empire]] period.

The 1st of every October is celebrated in South Korea as [[Armed Forces Day (South Korea)|Armed Forces Day]]. It commemorates the day during the [[Korean War]] when [[3rd Infantry Division (South Korea)|3rd Infantry Division]] of the ROK Army first crossed the [[38th parallel north#Korea|38th Parallel]], thus leading the [[United Nations Command|UN coalition]] into North Korean territory for the first time.

The National Security Guard of South Korea, also called the Korean Constabulary, was the nucleus of the ROK Army. This organization was created during the USAMGIK period from 1945 to 1948. The National Security Guard was initially a reserve unit of the [[National Police Agency (South Korea)#1945–1948: Period of the Police Administration Department|National Police]]. In addition, some former soldiers of the [[Manchukuo Imperial Army]] also contributed to the force. The National Defense Force was established on January 15, 1946, replacing the United States lead constabulary from 1945.

The outbreak of the [[Korean War]] caught the ROK forces unprepared, requiring the United Nations to intervene with US-led forces. The South Korean military rapidly developed during the Korean War, suffering several casualties and loss of equipment. As the Soviets had armed North Korea, the United States armed and trained the South Korean military throughout the Korean War.

===Current operational status===
The Republic of Korea Army is structured to operate in both the mountainous terrain native to the [[Korea|Korean Peninsula]] (70% mountainous<ref>{{Cite web |title=Physical Setting of Korea |url=http://nationalatlas.ngii.go.kr/pages/page_1270.php |access-date=2022-09-08 |website=nationalatlas.ngii.go.kr}}</ref>) and in North Korea with its 950,000 strong [[Korean People's Army Ground Force]], two-thirds of which is permanently garrisoned in the frontline near the [[Korean Demilitarized Zone|DMZ]]. The current administration has initiated a program over the next two decades to design a purely domestic means of self-defense, whereby South Korea would be able to fully counter a North Korean attack.

The ROK Army was formerly organized into 3 armies: the First Army (FROKA), the Third Army (TROKA), and the Second Operational Command, each with its own headquarters, corps, and divisions. The Third Army was responsible for the defense of the capital as well as the western section of the DMZ. The First Army was responsible for the defense of the eastern section of the DMZ whereas the Second Operational Command formed the rearguard.

Under a restructuring plan aimed at reducing redundancy, the Second ROK Army was converted into the Second Operations Command in 2007, and the First and Third ROK Armies were merged as the Ground Operations Command in 2019.

==Equipment==
{{Main|List of equipment of the Republic of Korea Army}}
The army consists of 400,000 troops, approximately 2,838 Tanks, 131,000 Armoured Fighting Vehicles, 9,300 Artillery Pieces, 2,000 Multiple Rocket Launchers, and 982 Helicopters as of 2025. Main battle tank types include: 400 [[M48 Patton]] series and its upgrades such as the M48A3K, M48A5, and M48A5K, 33 Soviet [[T-80 models|T-80U]] and 2 T-80UK (given by Russia to pay off debt), as well as 1,511 [[K1 88-Tank|K1A1]] and K1 tanks, which bear a 120mm [[smoothbore]] gun and are of local manufacture. The future replacement for the K1 and K1A1 [[Main battle tank|MBTs]] has been named the [[K2 Black Panther]] (흑표;黑豹 Heukpyo), which will be fitted with a 1500hp MTU-based engine, 55-caliber 120mm main gun with [[autoloader]]. The new tank will also feature [[radar]] equipment as well as all-bearing [[laser]] detection and defense systems, anti-missile active protection, and heavy [[Reactive armour|reactive armor]] and sensor package comparable to the American [[M1 Abrams|M1A2 Abrams]] and the German [[Leopard 2|Leopard 2A6]]. The ROK Army is planning to field approximately 443 Black Panthers.

In addition, the Republic of Korea manufactures the K-9 howitzer which has been exported to Turkey as the T-155 howitzer as well as the ZMA series TIFV's which saw action in UN peacekeeping operations ([[Peacekeeping|PKO]]) as part of the Malaysian peacekeeping forces. A variation of the K200, the KAFVs can be retrofitted to bear a 90mm cannon, 40&nbsp;mm grenade turret, M230-1 Chaingun Turret, or MK-30 Chaingun Turret. A replacement for the K200 series IFVs are currently being tested, designated as the [[K21]] KNIFV (Korea Next Generation Infantry Fighting Vehicle), which will have various capabilities for both land and naval warfare. The initial production is set for 2008, with the ROK Army planning to field approximately 600 units.

The K21 KNIFV's chassis will be constructed entirely out of fiberglass, reducing the vehicle's load and enabling it to travel at higher speeds without bulky and powerful engines. When constructed, the NIFV will be lighter than other IFVs, including the American [[Bradley Fighting Vehicle|Bradley]] series and Russian BMP series, increasing both speed and payload.

The ROK Army also fields the mobile K-SAM "Pegasus"(천마/天馬; ''Cheonma''), fitted with 8 missiles that fly at maximum speeds of Mach 2.6, and the K-30 "''Biho''" series, which features a 30mm twin gun system for anti-aerial fire support.

Besides having vehicles and equipment of their own design as well as American models, the ROK Army also possesses inventories of Russian-built AFVs, including [[BMP-3]] IFVs and T-80U MBTs, given by the Russian government to pay off the financial debt owed to South Korea. Other notable foreign equipment in service with the ROK Army includes the [[Mistral (missile)|Mistral]] [[Man-portable air-defense system|MANPADS]].

In 2015, it was reported by South Korean lawmakers that more than 58,000 out of 100,549 South Korean soldiers at the Korean Demilitarized Zone lacked body armor capable of protection from North Korean firearms. The possession of only 42,030 body armor sets leaves 58,519 soldiers without body armor, and only 3,147 of the 42,030 sets are capable of protection from the [[AK-74]], the standard assault rifle of the [[Korean People's Army]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nknews.org/2015/09/defenseless-lawmaker-experts-decry-south-korean-body-armor-shortage/|title=Defenseless: Lawmaker, experts decry South Korean body armor shortage |website=[[NK News]]|date=17 September 2015 |author1=JH Ahn |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104224024/https://www.nknews.org/2015/09/defenseless-lawmaker-experts-decry-south-korean-body-armor-shortage/ |archive-date= Nov 4, 2016 }}</ref>

[[File:2011.12.20 레바논 동명부대, Rep.of Korea The Dong-Myung Unit in Lebanon (7849824474).jpg|thumb|South Korean troops serving with [[UNIFIL]] in Lebanon in 2011]]
A new infantry rifle, the [[S&T Daewoo K11|Daewoo K11]], entered service in 2010. The overall concept of this weapon is more advanced to the American [[Objective Individual Combat Weapon|OICW]], however its production has been halted and weapon discontinued in 2020 due to excessive issues involving its targeting component and the quality of ammunition, to focus on fixing the issues which have been quickly resolved.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vining |first=Miles |date=23 January 2020 |title=South Korea pulls the plug on K11 weapon |url=https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/south-korea-pulls-plug-k11-weapon/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115010406/https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/south-korea-pulls-plug-k11-weapon/ |archive-date=Jan 15, 2024 |website=Shephard}}</ref> Inspection of military equipment in June 2021 found that 26% of components involving the Warrior Platform program for modernization of South Korean infantry is defective.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2021/06/06/national/defense/defect-defense-DAPA/20210606191100195.html|title = Pound-foolish procurement robs super soldiers of superpower| date=6 June 2021 |website=[[Korea JoongAng Daily]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031140401/https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2021/06/06/national/defense/defect-defense-DAPA/20210606191100195.html |archive-date= Oct 31, 2023 }}</ref>

==Organization==
{{Main article|Structure of the Republic of Korea Army}}

On 1 December 2020, all subordinate regiments of each [[Division (military)|divisions]] in the Republic of Korea Army reorganized into [[Brigade|brigades]].<ref>[https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/032/0003060422?sid=100  육군 ‘연대를 여단으로’ 전투 기동력 높였다]</ref>

As of July 2023, the Republic of Korea Army has 2 [[Field army|field armies]], 6 [[corps]], and 34 [[Division (military)|divisions]].

==Ranks==
{{main|Military ranks of South Korea}}
In officer ranks, "{{lang|ko-Latn|So}}" ({{lang|ko|少}}) equals lower; "{{lang|ko-Latn|Jung}}" ({{lang|ko|中}}) equals medium; "{{lang|ko-Latn|Dae}}" ({{lang|ko|大}}) equals higher. "{{lang|ko-Latn|Jun}}" ({{lang|ko|准}}) equals equivalent, used for warrant officer and 1 star generals to ensure that they are regarded as officers/generals, although these ranks are lower than the same grade with "{{lang|ko-Latn|So}}" rank. "{{lang|ko-Latn|Wo}}" ({{lang|ko|元}}) equals principal, only used for {{lang|ko-Latn|Won-Su}}, General of the Army. Each of these is coupled with one of the following: "{{lang|ko-Latn|wi}}" ({{lang|ko|尉}}) equals company grade, "{{lang|ko-Latn|ryung}}" ({{lang|ko|領}}) equals field grade, and "{{lang|ko-Latn|jang}}" ({{lang|ko|將}}) equals general.

NCO rank is similar to officer. "{{lang|ko-Latn|Ha}}" ({{lang|ko|下}}) equals lower; "{{lang|ko-Latn|Jung}}" ({{lang|ko|中}}) equals medium; "{{lang|ko-Latn|Sang}}" ({{lang|ko|上}}) equals higher; "{{lang|ko-Latn|Won}}" ({{lang|ko|元}}) equals principal, because this title is named after {{lang|ko-Latn|Won-Su}}, to ensure that this rank is higher than {{lang|ko-Latn|Sang-sa}}. Each of these is coupled with "{{lang|ko-Latn|Sa}}" ({{lang|ko|士}}) equals sergeant, although actual 'sergeant' rank is "{{lang|ko-Latn|Byeong-jang}}".

This system is due to the [[Hanja]] or [[Sino-Korean vocabulary|Sino-Korean]] origin of the names.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://i.kdaq.empas.com/imgs/qrsi.tsp/8061636/10565009/0/1/A/photo.jpg |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-01-31 |archive-date=2009-02-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226193919/http://i.kdaq.empas.com/imgs/qrsi.tsp/8061636/10565009/0/1/A/photo.jpg |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=September 2023}}

;Commissioned officer ranks
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
|- style="background-color:#CCCCCC;"
! Rank group
! colspan=10| [[General officer]]
! colspan=6| [[Senior officer|Field officer]]
! colspan=8| [[Junior officer]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| '''Combat uniform'''
| colspan=2| [[File:KA insignia General of the Army.jpg|50px|alt=Marshal of the RoK]]
| colspan=2| [[File:KA insignia General.jpg|50px|alt=Superior general]]
| colspan=2| [[File:KA insignia Lieutenant General.jpg|50px|alt=Middle general]]
| colspan=2| [[File:KA insignia Major General.jpg|50px|alt=Junior general]]
| colspan=2| [[File:KA insignia Brigadier General.jpg|50px|alt=Lesser general]]
| colspan=2| [[File:KA insignia Colonel.jpg|50px|alt=Superior commander]]
| colspan=2| [[File:KA insignia Lieutenant Colonel.jpg|50px|alt=Middle commander]]
| colspan=2| [[File:KA insignia Major.jpg|50px|alt=Junior commander]]
| colspan=2| [[File:KA insignia Captain.jpg|50px|alt=Superior lieutenant]]
| colspan=3| [[File:KA insignia First Lieutenant.jpg|50px|alt=Middle lieutenant]]
| colspan=3| [[File:KA insignia Second Lieutenant.jpg|50px|alt=Junior lieutenant]]
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armies/OF/South Korea}}
|}

;Warrant officer ranks
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
|- style="background-color:#CCCCCC; text-align:center;"
! Rank group
! [[Warrant officer]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| '''Combat uniform'''
| [[File:KA insignia Warant Officer.jpg|50px]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan=2| '''{{Army|South Korea}}'''<ref name="SouthKorea_Army" />
| [[File:SouthKorea-Army-WO.svg|50px]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| {{lang|ko|준위}}<br />{{lang|ko-Latn|[[Junwi]]}}
|}

;Other ranks
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
|- style="background-color:#CCCCCC; text-align:center;"
! Rank group
! colspan=16| [[Non-commissioned officer]]
! colspan=20| [[Enlisted rank|Enlisted]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| '''Combat uniform'''
| colspan=6| [[File:KA insignia Sergeant Major.jpg|50px|alt=Sergeant Major]]
| colspan=2| [[File:KA insignia Master Sergeant.jpg|50px|alt=Master Sergeant]]
| colspan=2| [[File:KA insignia Sergeant First Class.jpg|50px|alt=Sergeant 1st Class]]
| colspan=6| [[File:KA insignia Staff Sergeant.jpg|50px|alt=Staff Sergeant]]
| colspan=6| [[File:KA insignia (cloth) Sergeant.gif|100px|alt=Sergeant]]
| colspan=4| [[File:KA insignia (cloth) Corporal.gif|100px|alt=Corporal]]
| colspan=2| [[File:KA insignia (cloth) Private 1st Class.gif|100px|alt=Private 1st Class]]
| colspan=6| [[File:KA insignia (cloth) Private (2nd Class).gif|100px|alt=Private]]
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armies/OR/South Korea}}
|}

==See also==
* [[Korean Augmentation To the United States Army|KATUSA]]
* [[Korean People's Army Ground Force]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.army.mil.kr/ Republic of Korea Army] {{in lang|ko}}
* [http://www.army.mil.kr/english/ Republic of Korea Army]

{{South Korean armed forces}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Republic of Korea Army|Republic of Korea Army]]
[[Category:Military of South Korea]]