comparative military ranks of Korea

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 American and British rank insignia traditions.

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

All DPRK Marshalls wear Ground Force uniform as there is no division of Branch after this rank.

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.

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.

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 "Lance corporal", and "Corporal" 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|hangul=이등병|hanja=2等兵|labels=no}}, sometimes translated as private), Ildeungbyeong (일등병; 1等兵, sometimes translated as private first class), and Sangdeungbyeong (상등병; 上等兵, equivalent of a lance corporal) are commonly referred to as Ibyeong, Ilbyeong, and Sangbyeong respectively.

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).

• Comparative military ranks
• Comparative army officer ranks of Asia

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.

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• {{cite web |script-title=ko:군인사법, 시행 2021. 4. 13., 법률 제18000호, 2021. 4. 13., 일부개정 |trans-title=Military Justice Act, Enforcement April 13, 2021, Act No. 18000, April 13, 2021, partially amended |url=https://www.law.go.kr/%EB%B2%95%EB%A0%B9/%EA%B5%B0%EC%9D%B8%EC%82%AC%EB%B2%95/(20210413,18000,20210413)/%EC%A0%9C3%EC%A1%B0 |website=law.go.kr |access-date=19 May 2021 |language=ko}}

{{Military ranks by country}}

Korea

Category:Military comparisons