2008, Vol., No.68

The Korean Military History prior to the Establishment ofthe Republic of Korea Army: the Korean Soldiers andtheir Military Background under the Japanese Colonial Rule

Jeongok Nam | 2008, (68) | pp.5~50 | number of Cited : 2

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This article aims to explain about the Korean military history before the establishment of the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA), and to review the Korean soldiers and their military background under the Japanese colonial rule, 1910-1945. A generation of Japanese economic, political, and military interference on the Korean Peninsula culminated in Korea's formal annexation to Japan on August 22, 1910, Korea) became a Japanese colony with Prime Minister Yi Wan-yong's signing of the Treaty of Annexation, and treaty was announced to the Korean people by Emperor Sunjong(純宗) in a proclamation on August 29 marking the end of the 518 years rule of the Joseon(朝鮮) Dynasty. Annexation inaugurated a thirty-five year period of social and economic change directed to the ends of the Japanese state that has left a bitter legacy to this day. Above all, after the Manchurian Incident of 1931, the Japanese empire control tightened: the imperial administration saw the Korea Peninsula military base needing their war performance. Also, the Japanese empire began to enforce the Korean's mobilization in ordre to perform their empire war after the Sino-Japanese in 1939 and the Pacific War in 1941. Especially, the Japan controlled to enforce regulations the observance of Shinto(神社), the combination of the Japanese's emperor and ancestor worship. The Japan ordered every Korean public event to begin with the “Pledge of the Imperial Subjects.” Accordingly, under the Japanese colonial rule, many Korean youth people became some another state's soldiers. They enlisted to force various armies in the Manchuria, the Japan mainland, the China Continental, the Pacific area, etc. In a result, they became soldiers, and served as soldiers of the Chinese Army, the Japanese Army, the Restoration Army (Gwangbokgun), the Manchukuo's Army until the Liberation of Korea, August 15, 1945. After the Liberation Day of Korea, those returning from Japan, Manchuria, and China with military background tried to form the establishment of the regular army for the new nation with an eye to playing a leading role. They played a key role to protect their nation during the Korean War.

Formation of the Republic of Korea's National Defense System and Its Reorganization(1945~1960)

백기인 | 2008, (68) | pp.51~92 | number of Cited : 6

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Self-Defense Policies of the ROK Armed Forces andIts Modernization(1970~1997)

Il-Song Park | 2008, (68) | pp.93~130 | number of Cited : 5

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‘Self-Defense’ as a nation's defense policy needs not just ‘words’ but capability. For the Republic of Korea (ROK), its national defense policy stemmed from the Korean War and depended hugely on the United States (US). During the war and even after that, the ROK Government was able to maintain its armed forces mainly with the US support and it is still true today in some points. The US 2nd Infantry Division in Korea is a vivid example of the ROK-US relations. However, details of the ROK's defense policy from 1970 to 1997 show some variant from this main frame. Shocked by the Nixon Doctrine of 1969, President Park initiated ‘Self-Defense Policy’ and tried to reduce the ROK's dependence for national defense on the US. This policy continues thereafter as the ROK's fundamental defense policy. At the same time, the ROK tries to keep the US Forces in Korea with various effort and American soldier became a token of the US involvement to the ROK. This paper focuses mainly on the ROK defense policy from 1970 to 1997 with two themes mentioned above. For detailed discuss, it covers the period with three time spans; first from 1970 to 1981, second from 1981 to 1989, and finally from 1989 to 1997. Every chapter deals with domestic and foreign security circumstance, the ROK-US relations, and changes and development in the ROK defense policy in detail. In 1970, President Park's initiation of self defense policy came after Nixon doctrine that emphasized Asian nations' own responsibility for its national security and reduced American role for those nations. Thereafter, the ROK Government set several programs to implement the policy such as the Yulgok Project (Military Capability Improvement Program). At the same time, the ROK Government desperately tried to maintain the US Forces in Korea. Opposite to the US intention of reducing its involvement, the ROK-US military relations were strengthened during this period. The 1980s saw a self defense policy continued, but its characteristics are much different from the earlier period. While the 1970s were a beginning of the self defense policy, the 1980s increased the ROK's military capability. It was because of economic prosperity and scientific and technological capability of Korea. The second Yulgok Project now focuses on the modernization of the ROK Armed Forces and able to distribute K-1 tanks to the ROK divisions for operational purpose. During the 1990s, modernization program continues to improve self defense capability. Furthermore, the ROK's role for its national security was enlarged to a great degree. Presumably named as ‘Koreanization’ of national defense, it began to perform as main actor for the ROK national security and to enlarge its role in global peace-keeping operations. From 1970 to 1997, the ROK sought to arm its military with self-defense capability and its defense policy changed from modernization to Koreanization. Koreanization, truly ‘Self-Defense,’ is still a long way to go but should be completed in near future. In these efforts, domestic and foreign circumstance, especially the US policy toward Korea, influenced much in forming the ROK's defense policy. Even Koreanization does not mean to refusal of the ROK-US alliance that continues from the Korean War.

Defense Policies and System in the Self-DefenseDevelopment Period

조영갑 | 2008, (68) | pp.131~168 | number of Cited : 0

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Foundation and Development of theRepublic of Korea Army

박재용 | 2008, (68) | pp.169~208 | number of Cited : 2

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This article is to retrace the steps that the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) has taken in the past by examining the process of development from the founding of the ROKA to this day and to explore the direction that the ROKA should take in the future. Upon the liberation of Korea, the ROKA was started by numerous organizations at that time which vigorously led activities of building the military forces. However, those efforts did not lead to act of the ROK Army immediately. Under the United States Military Administration, the movements were incorporated into Joseon Garrison and became the basis to establish the ROKA. With the foundation of Republic of Korea, Joseon Garrison (Korea Constabulary), which became transferred to the ROK Armed Forces, was officially launched, involving branches of Army and Navy. Before the ROKA prepared for the self-reliant defense position, it had to face the Korean War. While executing the Korean War, the ROKA achieved the quantitative expansion and the strengthening of military forces by means of reinforcement. After the war, the ROKA renovated its structure thus began to possess the modernized form. The ROKA's rapid progress had been started since 1970s. And this implies that economic growth was the foundation for promoting defense industry and strengthening of military force from 1970s. The confidence that was gained from the success of the 1st and 2nd Military Reinforcement Plan and 818 Plan later resulted in the offensive deterrent strategy against the North Korea which was shifted from the defensive posture. This was due to the conclusion that yet North Korea's military strength was still ahead of the ROK, the ROK had advantages in terms of quality such as development of weapon system. The change in the phase of warfare, which appeared in 1990, made us feel that our forces were also looking for a turning point. Recently, the new phase of warfare prefers combats conducted by large-scale military force, emphasizing long-range strikes using high technology precision weapons and maneuver by means of massive firepower. Therefore, the ROKA has been trying to prepare for the future warfare by promoting troops with intelligence and technology rather than numerical reinforcement. So far, the ROKA has been playing the key role in practicing national defense against North Korea's standing force which owns numerical superiority over the ROK's. However, as the importance of joint operation is highlighted and the concept of warfare is being modified by the advanced weapons and the development of intelligence, the roles of the ROKA are getting minimized relatively. To follow this common trend, all countries around the world also tend to reduce the size of the ground force while increasing the military strength of the Navy and the Air Force. However, North Korea still possesses a ground force 1 million strong and 12,000 troops of Special Operation Forces. North Korea has forward deployed 70 percent of its military force against the ROK and maintained its capability and posture of raid. Considering that the metropolitan area is within 40km from the Military Demarcation Line, the ROKA is the only force that can react to the North Korean People's Army's quick raid, unconventional warfare, and blitz tactics. For this reason, the ROKA will have to come up with forces that can quickly respond to the North Korea's provocation and develop efficient system which prepares for the future warfare simultaneously.

Foundation and Development of theRepublic of Korea Navy

김주식 | 2008, (68) | pp.209~250 | number of Cited : 9

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I wrote this article in order to review the Republic of Korea (ROK) naval history of sixty years according to 4 types of navy: coastal navy, regional navy, ocean-going navy or blue-water navy, and global navy. The founding of the Navy began shortly after Independence Day and three months later Haebangbyeongdan (Coast Guard) was founded on November 11, 1945. This Haebangbyeongdan became a regular navy after the ROK Government was established. Before the Navy had organized its system, the Korean War broke out in 1950. Nevertheless the Navy tried its best to do many activities and achieved brilliant results thanks to self-sacrifice of Korean naval officers and men and the help of the US Navy. After the Armistice Agreement the Navy devoted all its energies to recovering the scar of the war and improving systems. As a result, it is said that for 25 years from 1945 to 1970 was the period when navy established its systems. The nationwide movement for self-reliance of national defense which occurred from the 1970s played a decisive role in naval development. We could construct naval ships and produce naval weapons thanks to the economic development, the improvement of scientific technology, and the industrial development. We construct small ships and boats at an early stage of the 1970s. In the 1980s, we could plan to construct destroyers and submarines as well as escort ships thanks to previous experience and continued buildup of national strength. In the 1990s, these efforts produced detailed results that Project KDX-I was completed. Consequently, we ceased to use the ships which had been used in the US Navy in the World War II any more. Instead, the age of navy when ships were constructed in domestic shipyards and possessed of three dimensional force (underwater- surface-air) began in 2000s. In the period, our navy has developed in organization, administration, training and education, operations, and culture. So it is by no means inferior to other navies now and it began to interchange and did combined operations with other navies. But the Navy still devoted itself to keeping an eye on North Korea. So, it is said that the period from 1971 to 2000 was that of the construction of coastal navy. After 2000, ships constructed in our domestic shipyards have been greatly improved in quality. The Projects KDX-II, KDX-III, KSS-II, and PKX have been developed. LPX, Korean type mine sweeper and supply ships have been constructed and SSX has been carried out. In addition, the Navy has been interchanging with other navies actively, increased the number of combined drills, and widened its field of activities to the Indian Sea. Since 2001, the Navy has been changing to regional navy which mainly do the job in the coastal area but can operate in the ocean. The ROK has no choice but to have ocean-going navy because of geographic, military and human social conditions. Ocean-going navy means that it can operate in the ocean to protect national interests and contribute to the world peace. The construction of ocean-going navy is not simply possessed of the force of naval vessels and air force mainly composed of helicopters. It has to possess its own air force which can do anti-aircraft defense and air-attack and it has to maintain and expand pro-Korean international relationship and military-diplomatic relation. And it need to win previously broad support of people in the country. The Navy's effort will not construct the ocean-going navy. The construction must be carried forward as the national strategic project. This is the direction on the ROK Navy's future development course.

Foundation and Development of theRepublic of Korea Air Force

Lee, Myoung-Hwan | 2008, (68) | pp.251~281 | number of Cited : 5

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The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) was founded on October 1, 1949. After the foundation, the Air Force has developed to strategic air force, and now it is orienting toward aerospace force. The 60-year history of the Air Force can be divided into three stages. The first stage, the establishment of tactical air force (1945～1960), was the period, in which the Air Operational Command was established. The Korean War, exposing the weakness of the ROKAF, was a crisis and opportunity at the same time. Undertaking various operations during the war, the Air Force aimed for two different objectives, air operations for victory and enhancement of air power. After acceptance of ten F-51 fighters from the US Far East Air Force, the 10th Fighter Wing could operate independently. After the Korean War, the ROKAF received F-86 fighters through the 3-year plan of enhancement and Moosul plan. In the second stage (1961～1990), the era of tactical air force system, the ROKAF introduced supersonic fighter planes and could have stable air operation capabilities. Through the Yulgok Project, the ROKAF introduced supersonic fighters such as F-5, F-4, and F-16. The improved stability of air operations in the 1980s enabled us to respond to possible sudden attacks from the North Korea Air Force. The third stage (1991～2008), which aims for the strategic air force, has its momentum resulted from the circumstances in the 1990s, the period of increasing importance of air power due to frequent international conflicts. After analyzing the specifics of the air combats during the Gulf War and the air-strike of Kosovo in 1999, the ROKAF has set up its future identity as Aerospace Force, the barometer of 21st century air force. Furthermore, the recent mobilization of F-15K, a fighter capable of precise long-distance attack, demonstrates the characteristics of the ROKAF as strategic air force. The future orientation of the ROKAF is aerospace force. On the basis of National Defense Reform 2020, the Air Force could secure the Airborne Warning and Control System, space capabilities, and therefore, it could protect the national interest beyond war deterrence capability against North Korea.

Foundation and Development of theRepublic of Korea Marine Corps

Kim,Hyun-Ki | 2008, (68) | pp.283~324 | number of Cited : 2

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This Article attempt to provide a historically description of the establishment of the Republic of Korea Marine Corps (ROKMC) and it's development. The ROKMC was established on April 15, 1949 at Jinhae Naval Airfield (Deoksandae) with 380 marines (Officers: 26, Non-Commissioned officers: 54, Enlistedmen: 380). During the Korean War, the ROKMC carried out the combats of Gunsan, Iri, Janghang and then took part in the Hamyang, Jinju, Jindongri, and Tongyeong battles. Just after the Incheon Amphibious Landing Operations and recapture of Capital Seoul, Korea, the ROKMC carried out Wonsan, Goseong, Hamheung Battles and then took part in Andong, Yeongdeok, Yeongwol, Hongcheon, Hwacheon, Dosolsan, Kim Il-sung, Gimpo, Jangdan Battles. The ROKMC had a nickname of Invincible Marines with indomitable fighting spirit and created glorious tradition at the first stage of the Korean War. During the Vietnam War (1964-72), the ROKMC took part in war with the US Marine Corps (USMC) against the North Vietnam. The ROK 2nd Marine Brigade, which is called Cheongryong (Blue Dragoon) Troops had 4,130 personnel (Officers: 208, Enlistedmen: 3,922) which fought various combat with Cheogryong 1st Operations, Haeryong Operations, Tra Bin Dong Operations, Yongdu Operations, The Loi Operations, Seungryong 7-21, 21-1, 15-1 Operations, Hoi An Operations, and Hwangryong Operations. The ROKMC wrote a record brilliant victory against the North Vietcong with 9,619 killed in actions (KIA), 687 prisoners of war (POW) through 151,437 times of small troop operations and 168 times of operations over battalion size. The ROKMC even another nickname of Korean Marines leaves myth to the world. 14 years of without Headquarters (HQs) of the ROKMC, they recreated HQs of the ROKMC on November 1, 1987 in Seoul just beside of the ROK Navy HQs. In order to effective operations of multi-purpose rapid reaction forces, the ROKMC moved to new base, Balan for the future development. The ROMC reformed, found and drive forwarded chain of command, Education and Training Group, multi-purpose rapid reaction troops, making IT and scientific marines, and the ROK-US Combined Marines Component Command (CMCC). For the future developing and strong Marines, I would lie to concluded that the ROKMC must solve the matters of issue as follow. First, Creating the Marine Air-Ground Task Forces (MAGTF) as the ROK style as soon as possible. Second, insurance of the ROK amphibious capability itself. Third, epoch-making enhancement of transportation capability for the ROK amphibious forces. Fourth, appropriation enhancement of amphibious command, landing, transport ships for the ROK Navy.

Foundation and Development of theKorean Women Soldiers

민경자 | 2008, (68) | pp.325~366 | number of Cited : 6

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Through the 60 rigorous years the Republic of Korea (ROK) has overcome, it is possible to gleam on the series of streak of light the Women Soldiers' history and recognize the chain of process on how the women soldiers overcame their social status and joined in the military and participated in the Korean War; how they integrated and developed with the ROK Armed Forces as a minor group through changes in the social status and the military organization and prospect on how the Women Soldiers will overcome any future national defence innovation and foster a more firm stance within the military. Upon careful scrutiny of the background and process of the Women Soldiers during the Korean War; how women have participated as militias and taken an important role; how women have showed continuous efforts in establishing the new system and improving the system after their status as militia has been transferred to the Women Soldiers we can see that the Women Soldiers are working their way in developing their own women speciality as soldiers. Moreover, in addition to the Women Soldiers, the Women's Army Corps was established and thus came the time when the women have gained a dignified appearance and internally blossomed the heritage and culture of the Women Soldiers. On the other hand there was also time when the military had to downsize its size because of the economic hardship; and women officers were targeted to the downsize; however, by recruiting superior women, this special group demonstrated their excellence as soldiers thus, continued their training in the Women Corps, and integrated as a typical military branch. The great activity that women displayed in all the branches; thus the Navy and Air Force opened their doors for women, and the integrated education of the Women Soldiers ceased; and with women actively participating in the Army, Navy and Air Force; the women have started the national defence women epoch, in which the Ministry of National Defense supports for a thorough women related policies. The National Defense Women Policy Team started operation as an official body, the policy team mainly focuses on the national defence women (civil official, civil service employees) and women soldiers. The National Defense Women Policy Team transferred into an organization which promotes the right of women, protection of motherhood, equality of sex and the policies which the national women policy team pursues. In a developmental perspective, it is hard to see the organization as solely a women soldiers' organization but one thing is sure; that in the middle of the National Defense Women and National Defense Women Policy, there are the women soldiers.

KJCKorea
Journal Central

military history 2023 KCI Impact Factor : 0.94

2008, Vol., No.68