This article is actively undergoing a major edit for a little while. To help avoid edit conflicts, please do not edit this page while this message is displayed. This page was last edited at 20:07, 30 July 2005 (UTC) (19 years ago) – this estimate is cached, . Please remove this template if this page hasn't been edited for a significant time. If you are the editor who added this template, please be sure to remove it or replace it with {{Under construction}} between editing sessions. |
Comparative military ranks of Korea refer to the ranks and insignia maintained by the three primary military powers on the Korean Peninsula, those being the South Korean military, the armed forces of North Korea, and the military forces of the United States.
Most ranks of South and North Korea are identical, with some exceptions including some supreme North Korean ranks which have no equivalent in South Korea of the United States. The following table lists the comparative ranks of Korea to include all titles and insignia.
Army Forces
General ranks
| North Korean rank | North Korean insignia | South Korean rank | South Korean insignia | U.S. equivalent | U.S. insignia |
| Dae Wonsu | File:NKGrandMarshal.gif | No Equivalent | N/A | No Equivalent | N/A |
| Wonsu | File:NKMarshal.gif | No Equivalent | N/A | General of the Armies | N/A |
| Chasu | File:NorthKoreanMarshal.gif | Wonsu | File:Korea5Star.jpg | General of the Army | File:USAGENA.jpg |
| Daejang | File:NK4star.gif | Taejang | File:SouthKorea4Star.jpg | General | File:General insignia.png |
| Sangjang | File:NK3star.gif | Chungjang | File:SouthKorea3Star.jpg | Lieutenant General | File:Lieutenant General insignia.png |
| Jungjang | File:NK2star.gif | Sojang | File:SouthKorea2Star.jpg | Major General | File:Major General insignia.png |
| Sojang | File:NK1star.gif | Chunjang | File:SouthKorea1Star.jpg | Brigadier General | File:Brigadier General insignia.png |
Officer ranks
| North Korean rank | North Korean insignia | South Korean rank | South Korean insignia | U.S. equivalent | U.S. insignia |
| Daechwa | File:NKSeniorColonel.gif | No Equivalent | N/A | No Equivalent | N/A |
| Sangchwa | File:NKColonel.gif | Taeryong | File:ROKColonel.jpg | Colonel | 
|
| Jungjwa | File:NKLTColonel.gif | Chungryong | File:ROKLTCOL.jpg | Lieutenant Colonel | 
|
| Sojwa | File:NKMajor.gif | Soryong | File:ROKMajor.jpg | Major | 
|
| Daewi | File:NKSenrCapt.gif | No Equivalent | N/A | No Equivalent | N/A |
| Sangwi | File:NKCapt.gif | Taewi | File:ROKCapt.jpg | Captain | 
|
| Jungwi | File:NK1LT.gif | Chungwi | File:ROK1LT.jpg | First Lieutenant | 
|
| Sowi | File:NK2LT.gif | Sowi | File:ROK2LT.jpg | Second Lieutenant | 
|
Enlisted ranks
| North Korean rank | North Korean insignia | South Korean rank | South Korean insignia | United States equivalent | U.S. insignia |
| Teukmu Sanga | File:NKSergeantMajor.gif | Wonsa | File:SKSrgMajor.gif | Sergeant Major | File:US-Army-OR9c.gif |
| Sangsa | File:NKMasterSrgh.gif | Sangsa | File:SKMasterSrg.gif | Master Sergeant | File:US-Army-OR8b.gif |
| Jungsa | File:NK1stSergeant.gif | Chungsa | File:SKSrg1st.gif | Sergeant First Class | File:US-Army-OR7.gif |
| Hasa | File:NKStaffSergeant.gif | Hasa | File:SKStfSerg.gif | Staff Sergeant | File:US-Army-OR6.gif |
| Sangkeub | File:NKSergeant.gif | Byongjang | File:SKSergeant.gif | Sergeant | File:US-Army-OR5.gif |
| Jungkeub | File:NKCorporal.gif | Sangbyong | File:SKCorporal.gif | Corporal | File:US-Army-OR4a.gif |
| Hakeub | File:NKPFC.gif | Ilbyong | File:SKPFC.gif | Private First Class | File:US-Army-OR3.gif |
| Jeonsa | File:NKPrivate.gif | Yibyong | File:SKPrivate.gif | Private | File:US-Army-OR2.gif |
| No Equivalent | N/A | Mudungbyong | No Insignia | Private (Basic) | No Insignia |
Air Forces
General ranks
| North Korean rank | North Korean insignia | South Korean rank | South Korean insignia | U.S. equivalent | U.S. insignia |
| Chasu | File:NKGenAirForce.gif | Wonsu | File:SKoreaGenAirForce.jpg | General of the Air Force | File:USAGENAF.jpg |
| Daejang | File:NK4StarAF.gif | Taejang | File:SouthKorea4Star.jpg | General | File:General insignia.png |
| Sangjang | File:NK3StarAF.gif | Chungjang | File:SouthKorea3Star.jpg | Lieutenant General | File:Lieutenant General insignia.png |
| Jungjang | File:NK2StarAF.gif | Sojang | File:SouthKorea2Star.jpg | Major General | File:Major General insignia.png |
| Sojang | File:NK1StarAF.gif | Chunjang | File:SouthKorea1Star.jpg | Brigadier General | File:Brigadier General insignia.png |
Officer ranks
| North Korean rank | North Korean insignia | South Korean rank | South Korean insignia | United States equivalent | U.S. insignia |
Enlisted ranks
| North Korean rank | North Korean insignia | South Korean rank | South Korean insignia | United States equivalent | U.S. insignia |
Naval Forces
Admiral ranks
| North Korean rank | North Korean insignia | South Korean rank | South Korean insignia (shoulder) |
U.S. equivalent | U.S. insignia (shoulder) |
USN and ROKN sleeve insignia |
| Chasu | File:NKFleetAdmiral.gif | Wonsu | File:SouthKoreaFltAd.gif | Fleet Admiral | File:FleetAdmiral.gif | File:KoreaFltAd.gif |
| Daejang | File:NKNavyAdmiral.gif | Taejang | File:SKAdBoards.gif | Admiral | 45 | File:KoreaAd.gif |
| Sangjang | File:NKNavy3Star.gif | Chungjang | File:SKVAdmBoards.gif | Vice Admiral | File:USNAvyVAd.gif | File:KoreaVAd.gif |
| Jungjang | File:NKNavy2Star.gif | Sojang | File:SKRearAdBrds.gif | Rear Admiral (Upper Half) | File:USNAvyRAD.gif | File:KoreaRearAd.gif |
| Sojang | File:NKNavy1Star.gif | Chunjang | File:SKCommoBoards.gif | Rear Admiral (Lower Half) | File:USNAv1Star.gif | File:KoreaCommo.gif |
United States Navy and Korean Flag officers wear collar insignia identical to the Army and Air Force services in each respective nation.
Officer ranks
| North Korean rank | North Korean insignia | South Korean rank | South Korean insignia (collar) |
U.S. equivalent | U.S. insignia (shoulder) |
| Daechwa | File:NKNavSrCapt.gif | No Equivalent | N/A | No Equivalent | N/A |
| Sangchwa | File:NKNavCapt.gif | Taeryong | File:ROKColonel.jpg | Captain | File:USN6.gif |
| Jungjwa | File:NKCommander.gif | Chungryong | File:ROKLTCOL.jpg | Commander | File:USN5.gif |
| Sojwa | File:NKLCDR.gif | Soryong | File:ROKMajor.jpg | Lieutenant Commander | File:USN4.gif |
| Daewi | File:NKSrLT.gif | No Equivalent | N/A | No Equivalent | N/A |
| Sangwi | File:NKNavyLT.gif | Taewi | File:ROKCapt.jpg | Lieutenant | File:USN3.gif |
| Jungwi | File:NKLTJG.gif | Chungwi | File:ROK1LT.jpg | Lieutenant Junior Grade | File:USN2.gif |
| Sowi | File:NKEnsign.gif | Sowi | File:ROK2LT.jpg | Ensign | File:USN1.gif |
South Korean and United States Navy officers wear collar insignia identical to that of the Army and Air Force services in each respective military. The sleeve stripe insignia is identical for the naval services of both countries.
Enlisted ranks
| North Korean rank | North Korean insignia | South Korean rank | South Korean insignia | United States equivalent | U.S. insignia |
Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps officers, and their South Korean counterparts, hold rank titles and wear insignia identical to the Army service in each respective nation. Neither Marine Corps of the two nations maintains a five star General rank. The North Korean military does maintain a Marine Corps as part of thier armed forces.
The various enlisted Marine Corps grades of the United States and South Korea are as follows.
Enlisted ranks
Warrant Officer
All branches of the South Korean military maintain a single Warrant Officer rank known as Junwi.
The rank is denoted by a gold collar pip and, in the case of the ROK Navy, a broken sleeve stripe. A Junwi may be considered to be a close equivalent to a Chief Warrant Officer in the United States armed forces.
The North Korean military does not maintain any sort of Warrant Officer positions.