South Korean army
| Republic of Korea Army 대한민국 육군 Daehanminguk Yuk-gun |
|
|---|---|
Seal of the Republic of Korea Army
|
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| Founded | September 5, 1948 |
| Country |
 South Korea |
| Type | Army |
| Role | Ground warfare |
| Size | 495,000 (2014) 552 aircraft (2014) |
| Part of |
 Republic of Korea Armed Forces
|
| Garrison/HQ | Gyeryong, South Chungcheong, South Korea |
| Nickname(s) | "ROK Army", "ROKA", "South Korean army", "SKA" |
| Motto(s) |
"A Strong Friend, Republic of Korea Army" (Korean: 《강한친구 대한민국 육군》) |
| March | "Army Anthem" (Korean: 《육군가》) |
| Mascot(s) | Hogugi (Korean: 호국이) |
| Equipment | 2,500 main battle tanks, 5,800 artillery pieces, 2,700 armored fighting vehicles, 60 guided missile systems, 600 helicopters |
| Engagements | Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War, War in Afghanistan, Iraq War |
| Commanders | |
| Chief of Army Staff | General Jang Jun-kyu |
| Insignia | |
| Flag |
 |
The Republic of Korea Army (ROKA; Korean: 대한민국 육군; Hanja: 大韓民國 陸軍; Revised Romanization: Daehanminguk Yuk-gun), also known as the ROK Army, is the army of South Korea, responsible for ground-based warfare. It is the largest of the military branches of the South Korean armed forces with 495,000 members as of 2014. This size is maintained through conscription; South Korean men must complete 21 months of military service between the age of 18 and 35.
The army will take the brunt of the personnel reduction planned as part of the Defense Reform 307. Associated with this personnel reduction would be a significant reduction in the ROK Army force structure, in particular decreasing the current force of 47 divisions (active duty/reserve) and 495,000 soldiers down to a force of about 38 divisions (active duty/reserve) and 400,000 soldiers.
The modern South Korean army traces its lineage back to the Gwangmu Reform, when the Beolgyegoon was established by Emperor Gojong in 1881. The 1st of every October is celebrated in South Korea as Armed Forces Day. It commemorates the day during the Korean War when units of the ROK Army first crossed the 38th Parallel, thus leading the UN Coalition north into North Korean territory for the first time.
The South Korean army is structured to operate in both the mountainous terrain native to the Korean Peninsula (70% mountainous) 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 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), Third Army (TROKA) and 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 2nd OC formed the rearguard.
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Wikipedia