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Foundation and Development of theRepublic of Korea Navy

김주식 1

1한국해양전략연구소

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ABSTRACT

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.

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