South Korean Military Power in 2015

                 South Korean Military Power 2016

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The Republic of Korea Armed Forces (Korean: 대한민국 국군; Hanja: 大韓民國國軍; Revised Romanization: Daehanminguk Gukgun, literally "Great Korean Republic National Military") are also known as the ROK Armed Forces, are the armed forces of South Korea. Created in 1948, following the division of Korea, the Republic of Korea Armed Forces is one of the largest standing armed forces in the world with a reported personnel strength of 3,600,000 in 2014 (630,000 active and 2,970,000 reserve).^[1] The ROK military forces are responsible for maintaining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the republic, but often engage in humanitarian and disaster-relief efforts nationwide. More recently the ROK military began increasing its participation in international affairs, acknowledging its role and responsibility as the fifteenth economic power in the world in terms of GDP. The ROK military has participated in various peacekeeping operations, and counter-terrorism operations. 
   
History

Main article: Military history of South Korea

The South Korean armed forces were largely constabulary forces until the outbreak of the Korean War. It was heavily damaged by North Korean and Chinese attacks and in the beginning relied almost entirely on American support for weapons, ammunition and technology. During South Korea's period of rapid growth, the military expanded accordingly, benefiting from several government-sponsored technology transfer projects and indigenous defense capability initiatives. Modernization efforts for the ROK military have been in place since the 1980s. The GlobalSecurity.org website states that "in 1990 South Korean industries provided about 70 percent of the weapons, ammunition, communications and other types of equipment, vehicles, clothing, and other supplies needed by the military."
Today, the South Korean armed forces enjoy a good mix of avant-garde as well as older conventional weapons. South Korea has one of the highest defense budgets in the world, ranking 12th globally in 2011, with a budget of more than $30 billion U.S. dollars. Its capabilities include many sophisticated American and European weapon systems, complemented by a growing and increasingly more advanced indigenous defense manufacturing sector. For example, by taking advantage of the strong local shipbuilding industry, the ROK Navy has embarked on a rigorous modernization plan with ambitions to become a blue-water navy by 2020.^[4] South Korea has a joint military partnership with the United States, termed the ROK-U.S. Alliance,^[5] as outlined by the Mutual Defense Treaty signed after the Korean War. During the outbreak of the Vietnam War, ROK Army and the ROK Marines were among those fighting alongside South Vietnam and the United States. More recently, South Korea also takes part in regional as well as pan-Pacific national military wargames and exercises such as RIMPAC and RSOI. Among other components of the armed forces is the Defence Security Command, originally the Army Counter-Intelligence Corps, which had a major role in monitoring the military's loyalty during the period of military rule in South Korea.   
SOUTH KOREAN MILITARY POWER AND US MILITARY POWER 2016

Ranks

Further information: Military ranks of South Korea and Comparative military ranks of Korea

Note: The English titles are given as comparative examples with the US Army ranks.

Commissioned Officers (장교; 將校; Janggyo)
장관 (將官; Janggwan)
원수	元帥	Wonsu	General of the Army
대장	大將	Daejang	General
중장	中將	Jungjang	Lieutenant General
소장	少將	Sojang	Major General
준장	准將	Junjang	Brigadier General
영관 (領官; Yeonggwan)
대령	大領	Daeryeong	Colonel
중령	中領	Jungnyeong	Lieutenant Colonel
소령	少領	Soryeong	Major
위관 (尉官; Wigwan)
대위	大尉	Daewi	Captain
중위	中尉	Jungwi	First Lieutenant
소위	少尉	Sowi	Second Lieutenant
Warrant Officers (준사관; 准士官; Junsagwan)
준위	准尉	Junwi	Warrant Officer
Non-Commissioned Officers (부사관; 副士官; Busagwan)
원사	元士	Wonsa	Sergeant Major
상사	上士	Sangsa	Master Sergeant
중사	中士	Jungsa	Sergeant First Class
하사	下士	Hasa	Staff Sergeant
Enlisted (병; 兵; Byeong)
병장	兵長	Byeongjang	Sergeant
상병	上兵	Sangbyeong	Corporal
일병	一兵	Ilbyeong	Private First Class
이병	二兵	Ibyeong	Private

Budget

Year	Amount (KRW)	% of GDP	% of Gov Budget	% of change
1980	2.25 trillion	5.69	34.7	46.2
1981	2.70 trillion	5.47	33.6	20.1
1982	3.12 trillion	5.49	33.5	15.7
1983	3.27 trillion	4.85	31.4	4.9
1984	3.31 trillion	4.25	29.6	1.0
1985	3.69 trillion	4.23	29.4	11.6
1986	4.16 trillion	4.08	30.1	12.7
1987	4.75 trillion	3.95	29.6	14.1
1988	5.52 trillion	3.83	30.0	16.3
1989	6.01 trillion	3.68	27.3	9.0
1990	6.64 trillion	3.36	24.2	10.4
1991	7.48 trillion	3.13	23.8	12.6
1992	8.41 trillion	3.08	25.1	12.5
1993	9.22 trillion	2.97	24.2	9.6
1994	10.08 trillion	2.75	23.3	9.3
1995	11.07 trillion	2.58	21.4	9.9
1996	12.24 trillion	2.54	20.8	10.6
1997	13.79 trillion	2.60	20.7	12.6
1998	13.80 trillion	2.63	18.3	0.1
1999	13.75 trillion	2.38	16.4	-0.4
2000	14.48 trillion	2.28	16.3	5.3
2001	15.39 trillion	2.24	15.5	6.3
2002	16.36 trillion	2.15	14.9	6.3
2003	17.51 trillion	2.16	14.8	7.0
2004	18.94 trillion	2.16	15.8	8.1
2005	21.10 trillion	2.29	15.6	11.4
2006	22.51 trillion	2.33	15.3	6.7
2007	24.50 trillion	2.35	15.7	8.8
2008	26.65 trillion	2.41	14.8	8.8
2009	28.98 trillion	2.52	14.2	8.7
2010	29.56 trillion	2.34	14.7	2.0
2011	31.40 trillion	2.36	15.0	6.2
2012	32.96 trillion	2.39	14.8	5.0
2013	34.50 trillion	2.42	14.3	4.7
2014	35.71 trillion	2.38	14.4	3.5