Comparative military ranks of Korea
The comparative military ranks of Korea are the military insignia used by the two nations on the
In the South Korean armed forces, ranks fall into one of four categories:
While the North Korean ranks are inspired by the
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
North Korean rank | North Korean insignia[3] |
---|---|
Grand Marshal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea ( Tae wonsu)[a]
|
|
Marshal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (Korean: 공화국원수, romanized: Konghwaguk Wonsu)[b] |
Officer ranks
The shoulder boards and sleeve stripes of South Korean ranks apply only to their navies. North Korea's
No one has held the five-star rank Wonsu in the history of the ROK Armed Forces.
Army ranks
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Korean People's Army Ground Force[4] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
인민군원수 Inmingun-wonsu |
차수 Chasu |
대장 Daejang
|
상장 Sangjang
|
중장 Chungjang
|
소장 Sojang
|
대좌 Daechwa
|
상좌 Sangjwa
|
중좌 Chungjwa
|
소좌 Sojwa
|
대위 Taewi
|
상위 Sangwi
|
중위 Chungwi
|
소위 Sowi
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Republic of Korea Army[5] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet |
All DPRK Marshalls wear Ground Force uniform as there is no division of Branch after this rank.
Air force ranks
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Korean People's Army Air Force[4] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
인민군원수 Inmingun-wonsu |
차수 Chasu |
대장 Daejang
|
상장 Sangjang
|
중장 Chungjang
|
소장 Sojang
|
대좌 Daechwa
|
상좌 Sangjwa
|
중좌 Chungjwa
|
소좌 Sojwa
|
대위 Taewi
|
상위 Sangwi
|
중위 Chungwi
|
소위 Sowi
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Republic of Korea Air Force[6] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet |
ROK Navy
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Korean People's Navy[4] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
인민군원수 Inmingun-wonsu |
차수 Chasu |
대장 Daejang
|
상장 Sangjang
|
중장 Chungjang
|
소장 Sojang
|
대좌 Daechwa
|
상좌 Sangjwa
|
중좌 Chungjwa
|
소좌 Sojwa
|
대위 Taewi
|
상위 Sangwi
|
중위 Chungwi
|
소위 Sowi
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Republic of Korea Navy[7] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet |
Marine Corps
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republic of Korea Marine Corps[6] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet |
Warrant officer ranks
All branches of the
Rank group | Warrant officer | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Army | Navy | Marine Corps | Air force | |
Insignia | ||||
Korean | 준위 Junwi
| |||
English translation | Warrant Officer
|
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
Army ranks
Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Korean People's Army Ground Force[4] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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[5] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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[4] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
특무상사 T'ŭkmu-sangsa |
상사 Sangsa |
중사 Chungsa |
하사 Hasa |
상급병사 Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa |
중급병사 Chungŭp-pyŏngsa |
하급병사 Hagŭp-pyŏngsa |
전사 Chŏnsa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Republic of Korea Air Force[6] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
원사 Wonsa |
상사 Sangsa |
중사 Jungsa |
하사 Hasa |
병장 Byeongjang |
상등병 Sangdeungbyeong |
일등병 Ildeungbyeong |
이등병 Ideungbyeong | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Navy[4] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
특무상사 T'ŭkmu-sangsa
|
상사 Sangsa
|
중사 Chungsa
|
하사 Hasa
|
상급병사 Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa |
중급병사 Chungŭp-pyŏngsa |
하급병사 Hagŭp-pyŏngsa |
전사 Chŏnsa
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Republic of Korea Navy[7] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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[6] |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
원사 Wonsa
|
상사 Sangsa
|
중사 Jungsa
|
하사 Hasa
|
병장 Byeongjang
|
상등병 Sangdeungbyeong
|
일등병 Ildeungbyeong
|
이등병 Ideungbyeong
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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
References
- LCCN 79-9217. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
- LCCN 79-9217. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
- ^ Tertitskiy, Fyodor (14 March 2017). "North Korea's baffling personalized rank insignia, explained". NK News. Korea Risk Group. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
- ^ LCCN 2008028547. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
- ^ a b "Army Insignia". army.mil.kr. Republic of Korea Army. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
- ^ a b c d "gyegeubjang-ui jesig(je7joje2hang gwanlyeon)" 계급장의 제식(제7조제2항 관련) [Rank insignia (related to Article 7 (2))]. law.go.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 30 December 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.