Comparative military ranks of Korea

These ranks are honorary ranks and are not considered part of the main rank scheme.

North Korean rank	North Korean insignia[1]
대원수 Tae wonsu (Grand Marshal)[lower-alpha 1]
공화국원수 Konghwaguk Wonsu (Marshal of the Republic)[lower-alpha 2]

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 United States and British rank insignia traditions.

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

Army ranks

Equivalent NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D) and student officer
North Korea (Edit)																									Unknown
	Marshal of the KPA (인민군원수)	Vice marshal (차수)	Army general (대장)		Colonel general (상장)		Lieutenant general (중장)		Major general (소장)		Senior Colonel (Brigadier) (대좌)	Colonel (상좌)	Lieutenant colonel (중좌)		Major (소좌)		Captain (대위)		Senior lieutenant (상위)		Lieutenant (중위)		Junior lieutenant (소위)
South Korea (Edit)																									Unknown
	Marshal (원수)		General (대장)		Lieutenant general (중장)		Major general (소장)		Brigadier general (준장)		Colonel (대령)		Lieutenant colonel (중령)		Major (소령)		Captain (대위)		Lieutenant (중위)			Junior lieutenant (소위)
Equivalent NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D) and student officer

Air force ranks

Equivalent NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D) and student officer
North Korea (Edit)	No equivalent																								Unknown
			Air force general (대장)		Colonel general (상장)		Lieutenant general (중장)		Major general (소장)		Senior colonel (대좌)	Colonel (상좌)	Lieutenant colonel (중좌)		Major (소좌)		Captain (대위)		First lieutenant (상위)		Second lieutenant (중위)		Third lieutenant (소위)
South Korea (Edit)																									Unknown
	Marshal (Korean: 원수)		General (Korean: 대장)		Lieutenant general (Korean: 중장)		Major general (Korean: 소장)		Brigadier general (Korean: 준장)		Colonel (Korean: 대령)		Lieutenant colonel (Korean: 중령)		Major (Korean: 소령)		Captain (Korean: 대위)		Lieutenant (Korean: 중위)			Junior lieutenant (Korean: 소위)
Equivalent NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D) and student officer

Naval ranks

ROK Navy commissioned officer ranks have two distinct sets of rank insignia: On dress uniform a series of stripes similar to Commonwealth 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.

Equivalent NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D) and student officer
North Korea (Edit)	No equivalent																								No equivalent
			Taejang (대장)		Sangjang (상장)		Chungjang (중장)		Sojang (소장)		Daechwa (대좌)	Sangjwa (상좌)	Chungjwa (중좌)		Sojwa (소좌)		Taewi (대위)		Sangwi (상위)		Chungwi (중위)		Sowi (소위)
South Korea (Edit)																									No equivalent
	Wonsu (원수; 元帥) Fleet admiral		Daejang (대장; 大將) Admiral		Jungjang (중장; 中將) Vice admiral		Sojang (소장; 少將) Rear admiral		Junjang (준장; 準將) Rear admiral (lower half)		Daeryeong (대령; 大領) Captain		Jungnyeong (중령; 中領) Commander		Soryeong (소령; 少領) Lieutenant commander		Daewi (대위; 大尉) Lieutenant		Jungwi (중위; 中尉) Lieutenant (junior grade)			Sowi (소위; 少尉) Ensign
Equivalent NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D) and student officer

Marine Corps

Equivalent NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D) and student officer
South Korea (Marine Corps)	No equivalent																								Unknown
			Daejang General (대장)		Jungjang Lieutenant general (중장)		Sojang Major general (소장)		Junjang Brigadier general (준장)		Daeryeong Colonel (대령)		Jungnyeong Lieutenant colonel (중령)		Soryeong Major (소령)		Daewi Captain (대위)		Jungwi First lieutenant (중위)			Sowi Second lieutenant (소위)
Equivalent NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D) and student officer

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.

Grade	Rank	Abbreviation	Army	Air Force	Navy	Marine Corps
WO	Warrant Officer (준위)	WO	South Korea Army warrant officer insignia	South Korea Air Force warrant officer insignia	South Korea Navy warrant officer insignia	South Korea Navy warrant officer insignia

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 "Corporal" and "Sergeant" 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: 이등병; Hanja: 2等兵), Ildeungbyeong (일등병; 1等兵), and Sangdeungbyeong (상등병; 上等兵) are commonly referred to as Ibyeong, Ilbyeong, and Sangbyeong respectively.

Army ranks

Equivalent NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
North Korea (Edit)																																			No equivalent
	T'ŭkmu-sangsa 특무상사						Sangsa 상사		Chungsa 중사		Hasa 하사						Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa 상급병사						Chungŭp-pyŏngsa 중급병사				Hagŭp-pyŏngsa 하급병사		Chŏnsa 전사
	Sergeant major						Master sergeant		Sergeant first class		Staff sergeant						Sergeant						Corporal				Lance corporal		Private
South Korea (Edit)																																			No insignia
	Wonsa 원사						Sangsa 상사		Jungsa 중사		Hasa 하사						Byeongjang 병장						Sangdeungbyeong 상등병				Ildeungbyeong 일등병		Ideungbyeong 이등병
	Sergeant major						Master sergeant		Sergeant first class		Staff sergeant (Sergeant junior grade)						Sergeant (Master private)						Corporal (Senior private)				Private first class		Private (Second class)						Recruit
Equivalent NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1

Air force ranks

Equivalent NATO Code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
North Korea (edit)																																			No equivalent
	T'ŭkmu-sangsa 특무상사						Sangsa 상사		Chungsa 중사		Hasa 하사						Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa 상급병사						Chungŭp-pyŏngsa 중급병사				Hagŭp-pyŏngsa 하급병사		Chŏnsa 전사
	Sergeant major						Master sergeant		Sergeant first class		Staff sergeant						Sergeant						Corporal				Airman first class		Airman
South Korea (Edit)																																			No insignia
	Wonsa (Korean: 원사)						Sangsa (Korean: 상사)		Jungsa (Korean: 중사)		Hasa (Korean: 하사)						Byeongjang (Korean: 병장)						Sangdeungbyeong (Korean: 상등병)				Ildeungbyeong (Korean: 일등병)		Ideungbyeong (Korean: 이등병)
	Chief Master Sergeant						Senior Master Sergeant		Master Sergeant		Technical Sergeant						Staff Sergeant						Senior Airman				Airman First Class		Airman						Airman Basic
Equivalent NATO Code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1

Navy ranks

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).

Equivalent NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
North Korea (Edit)																																			No equivalent
	T'ŭkmu-sangsa 특무상사						Sangsa 상사		Chungsa 중사		Hasa 하사						Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa 상급병사						Chungŭp-pyŏngsa 중급병사				Hagŭp-pyŏngsa 하급병사		Chŏnsa 전사
	Master chief petty officer						Senior Chief Petty Officer		Chief Petty Officer		Petty Officer 1st Class						Petty Officer 2nd Class						Petty Officer 3rd Class				Seaman		Seaman Recruit
South Korea (Edit)																																			No insignia
	Wonsa 원사						Sangsa 상사		Jungsa 중사		Hasa 하사						Byeongjang 병장						Sangdeungbyeong 상등병				Ildeungbyeong 일등병		Ideungbyeong 이등병
	Master chief petty officer						Senior chief petty officer (Chief petty officer)		Chief petty officer (Senior petty officer)		Petty officer 1st class (Petty officer)						Petty officer 2nd class (Leading seaman)						Petty officer 3rd class (Able seaman)				Seaman (Seaman 1st class)		Seaman apprentice (Seaman 2nd class)						Seaman recruit
Equivalent NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1

Marine Corps

Equivalent NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
South Korea (Marine Corps)																																			No equivalent
	Wonsa 원사						Sangsa 상사		Jungsa 중사		Hasa 하사						Byeongjang 병장						Sangdeungbyeong 상병				Ildeungbyeong 일등병		Ideungbyeong 이등병
	Sergeant Major						Master Sergeant		Gunnery Sergeant		Staff Sergeant						Sergeant						Corporal				Lance Corporal		Private						Recruit
Equivalent NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1

• 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.