The Republic of Korea Navy, also known as the ROK Navy or South Korean Navy, is the naval warfare service branch of the South Korean armed forces, responsible for naval and amphibious operations. The ROK Navy includes the Republic of Korea Marine Corps, which functions as a branch of the Navy. The ROK Navy has about 70,000 regular personnel including 29,000 Republic of Korea Marines. There are about 140 commissioned ships in the ROK Navy. The naval aviation force consists of about 70 fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. The ROK Marine Corps has about 300 tracked vehicles including assault amphibious vehicles.
The Korean Attack Submarine program, KSS meaning Submarine, is a three-phased project to build up the Republic of Korea Navy 's attack submarine arsenal. Before the KSS program, the submarine fleet of the ROK Navy consisted of midget submarines, such as the Dolgorae class submarine and SX 756 Dolphin class submarine, which had limited capabilities for inshore operations. The KSS program sought to acquire submarines that can deter hostile submarines and surface ships; protect friendly naval bases and sea shores communications; carry out reconnaissance missions.
The Yoon Youngha-class patrol vessel also known as PKG-class patrol vessel is a class of patrol ship of the Republic of Korea Navy. One variant is in active service and a smaller variant is planned. The first being the PKX-A or Yun Youngha-class missile patrol ship, and the second the PKX-B class patrol boat.
The Donghae-class PCC is the low-end complement of the high-low mix domestic naval construction plan of the Republic of Korea Navy under the 1st Yulgok Project (1974-1986) for the Republic of Korea Armed Forces. The ship is designed for patrolling maritime border, including the Northern Limit Line, protecting the littoral zone, and combating the North Korean vessels.
The Republic of Korea Navy was founded on November 11, 1945 as Marine Defense Group after Korea was liberated from the Empire of Japan. The ROK Navy is the oldest service within the ROK Armed Forces. In 2015, the South Korean navy celebrated its 70th anniversary.
The Pohang-class PCC is the low-end complement of the high-low mix domestic naval construction plan of the Republic of Korea Navy under the 1st Yulgok Project (1974-1986) for the Republic of Korea Armed Forces. It was originally planned as a Batch II production of Donghae-class corvette, but many changes on overall design, notably applying the hull design of Ulsan-class frigate, reclassified the ship to its own class. The ship is designed for patrolling maritime border, including the Northern Limit Line, protecting the littoral zone, and combating the North Korean vessels.
The Incheon-class frigates, also known as the Future Frigate eXperimental or FFX during development, are coastal defense frigates of the Republic of Korea Navy. The lead ship was launched on 29 April 2011. The Incheon-class frigates will replace the aging fleet of Pohang-class corvettes and Ulsan-class frigates, and take over multi-role operations such as coast patrol, anti-submarine warfare and transport support. Later batches are planned to be specialized on anti-air and anti-submarine warfare. An improved version is being introduced as the Daegu-class frigate; this was previously known as Batch II of the Incheon class.
The Sinpo-class submarine, also called the Gorae class or Pongdae class, is a new class of submarine produced in North Korea. Only one submarine has been observed in service, the 8.24 Yongung. It is the largest submarine designed and built for the Korean People's Navy.
ROKS Daegu (FFG-818) is the lead ship of the Daegu-class frigate in the Republic of Korea Navy. She is named after the city, Daegu.
The Daegu-class frigate is a class of guided missile frigates of the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN). The Daegu class is based on the preceding Incheon class, and has otherwise been referred to as the Incheon class batch II, or FFG-II. Eight Daegu-class ships have been commissioned, with the final goal of 20–22 frigates, of all types, in the ROKN. The Daegu-class frigates were built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) and Hyundai Heavy Industries.
Yangyang-class minesweeper is a ship class of minesweepers currently in service on the Republic of Korea Navy.
ROKS Sejong the Great (DDG-991) is the lead ship of her class of guided missile destroyer built for the Republic of Korea Navy. She was the first Aegis-built destroyer of the service and was named after the fourth king of the Joseon dynasty of Korea, Sejong the Great.
ROKS Seoul (FFG-821) is the third ship of the Daegu-class frigate in the Republic of Korea Navy. She is named after the capital, Seoul.
ROKS Cheonji (AOE-57) is the lead ship of the Cheonji-class fast combat support ship (AOE) in the Republic of Korea Navy. She is named after the lake, Cheonji.
ROKS Hwacheon (AOE-59) is the third ship of the Cheonji-class fast combat support ship (AOE) in the Republic of Korea Navy. She is named after the lake, Hwacheon.
ROKS Tongyeong (ATS-31) is the lead ship of the Tongyeong-class salvage and rescue ship in the Republic of Korea Navy. She is named after the city, Tongyeong.
ROKS Gwangyang (ATS-32) is the second ship of the Tongyeong-class salvage and rescue ship in the Republic of Korea Navy. She is named after the city, Gwangyang.
ROKS Yun Bong-gil (SS-077) is the fifth boat of the Sohn Won-yil-class submarine in the Republic of Korea Navy. She is named after the Korean independence activist, Yun Bong-gil.
ROKS Seongnam (PCC-775) was a Pohang-class corvette of the Republic of Korea Navy.
