Wonsu
Wonsu Marshal | |
---|---|
Country | North Korea South Korea |
Service branch | Korean People's Army Ground Force Republic of Korea Army |
Next higher rank | Taewonsu |
Next lower rank | Chasu |
Equivalent ranks | Konghwaguk Wonsu |
Wonsu | |
Hangul | 원수 |
---|---|
Hanja | 元帥 |
Revised Romanization | Wonsu |
McCune–Reischauer | Wŏnsu |
Wonsu is the highest military rank in the armed forces of North Korea and South Korea.[1]
Historical
The title of Wonsu or its variations had been used as the title of high-ranking military commanders in Korean history since
North Korea
This section needs additional citations for verification. (November 2015) |
Wonsu is a rank in the Korean People's Army of North Korea, equivalent to marshal in other armies. This rank is held by all Supreme Leaders of the DPRK.
While he was the
The rank of vice marshal (
The next change in the DPRK marshal ranks took place in 1992 when the rank of
Also, in 1992 eight other generals were promoted to vice marshal at which time in North Korea there was one grand marshal, one marshal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, one marshal of the Korean People's Army and eight vice marshals.
The rank (as marshal of the DPRK) was bestowed to Kim Jong Un in 2012.
On April 15, 2016, Kim Yong-chun and Hyon Chol-hae were promoted to the rank of Marshal of the Korean People's Army, the first promotions of active duty officers after 21 years.
Insignia
Rank group | General/flag officers | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Native name | 대원수/大元帥 Tae wonsu
|
공화국원수/共和國元帥 Konghwaguk wonsu |
인민군원수/人民軍元帥 Inmingun-wonsu | |
Literal translation | Grand marshal | Marshal of the Republic | Marshal of the Army | |
Insignia[2] |
List of Marshals of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Marshal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea 조선민주주의인민공화국 원수 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Marshal | Date of promotion | Notes | |
Kim Il Sung 김일성 1912–1994 |
7 February 1953 | Promoted to Grand Marshal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on 13 April 1992. | |
Kim Jong Il 김정일 1941–2011 |
20 April 1992 | Posthumously promoted to Grand Marshal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on 14 February 2012. | |
Kim Jong Un 김정은 born 1984 |
18 July 2012 | Promoted to Marshal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in July 2012.[3] |
List of Marshals of the Korean People's Army
Marshal of the Korean People's Army 조선인민군 원수 | ||
---|---|---|
Marshal | Date of promotion | Notes |
O Jin-u 오진우 1917–1995 |
20 April 1992 | |
Choe Kwang 최광 1918–1997 |
8 October 1995 | |
Ri Ul-sol 리을설 1921–2015 |
8 October 1995 | |
Kim Yong-chun 김영춘 1936–2018 |
14 April 2016 | |
Hyon Chol-hae 현철해 1934–2022 |
14 April 2016 | |
Ri Pyong-chol 리병철 born 1948 |
5 October 2020 | |
Pak Jong-chon 박정천 |
5 October 2020 | Demoted to Vice Marshal of the Korean People's Army in June 2021, and was promoted back at an undisclosed time before September 2023.[4] |
South Korea
This section needs additional citations for verification. (October 2021) |
Wonsu 원수 | |
---|---|
Daejang |
Wonsu (
The rank insignia for wonsu is heavily influenced by United States military insignia of General of the Army and General of the Air Force for Army and Air Force.[5] While the rank insignia for the Navy remains the same the sleeve insignia for a naval officer promoted to the rank is the same sleeve insignia of Fleet admiral used in the United States Navy.
Homophone
Coincidentally, wonsu is
See also
References
Citations
- ^ Chung-in Moon, Understanding regime dynamics in North Korea International Political Science Association. World Congress – 1998 Page 105 "Kim Jong Il.. ... which places him at the top of the party hierarchy, he holds the titles of the chairman of the National Defense Commission and the supreme commander of the Korean People's Army (KPA). He is, moreover, one of the two marshals (wonsu) in the DPRK, the other being Li Ul Sol who heads the KPA unit that guards top officials (howi ch'ongguk)."
- ^ Tertitskiy, Fyodor (14 March 2017). "North Korea's baffling personalized rank insignia, explained". NK News. Korea Risk Group. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
- ^ "North Korea's Kim Jong-un named 'marshal'". BBC News. 18 July 2012. Archived from the original on 18 July 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
- ^ "Kim Jong Un visits General Staff Post". dprktoday. 31 August 2023.
- LCCN 91039109. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
- ^ Sohn 2006, p. 38
Sources
- Sohn, Ho-min (2006), Korean language in culture and society, University of Hawaii Press, ISBN 978-0-8248-2694-9