Daejang
Encyclopedia
Daejang is a senior military rank
of the Korean Peninsula
, used by both North
and South Korea
. It is considered the combined equivalent of a General
and Admiral
in other nations. The rank of Daejang is sometimes spelled as Taejang, depending on the transliteration system used (Taejang in McCune-Reischauer, Daejang in official ROK transliteration system).
/Rear Admiral
), Jungjang
(Lieutenant General
/Vice Admiral
), Sangjang (Colonel General
/Admiral
). North Korean generals and admirals wear one to four stars.
There are also three marshal ranks above this: Chasu
(meaning 'vice marshal'), Wonsu
(meaning 'marshal') and Dae Wonsu
(meaning 'grand marshal').
The insignia for Daejang is based upon the former Soviet Union
military rank insignia (before 1974) for Generals of the Army and modern Generals of the Army of Russia, and in the naval versions, the Soviet (before 1974) and Russian (after 1994) rank insignias for Admirals of the Fleet
. It is also the highest rank which is effectively held by the professional military, since the higher ranks are normally seen more as combined military-political titles.
's three other General and Admiral ranks: Chunjang (Brigadier General
/ Rear Admiral Lower Half), Sojang (Major General
/ Rear Admiral Upper Half) and Jungjang
(Lieutenant General
/ Vice Admiral
). South Korean generals wear one to four stars as a badge of rank.
The higher rank of Wonsu
(Marshal) has never been used. Currently, eight (sometimes nine) officers of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces
in active service hold the rank of Daejang.
Military rank
Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...
of the Korean Peninsula
Korean Peninsula
The Korean Peninsula is a peninsula in East Asia. It extends southwards for about 684 miles from continental Asia into the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by the Sea of Japan to the south, and the Yellow Sea to the west, the Korea Strait connecting the first two bodies of water.Until the end of...
, used by both North
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
and South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. It is considered the combined equivalent of a General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
and Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
in other nations. The rank of Daejang is sometimes spelled as Taejang, depending on the transliteration system used (Taejang in McCune-Reischauer, Daejang in official ROK transliteration system).
North Korea
Daejang is senior to North Korea's three other General/Admiral ranks: Sojang (Major GeneralMajor General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
/Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
), Jungjang
Jungjang
Jungjang is the South Korean equivalent of a Lieutenant General. It outranks the Sojang, equivalent to a Major General. The rank is also held by Korean Vice Admirals and uses three stars as its badge of rank, much like the United States version....
(Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
/Vice Admiral
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
), Sangjang (Colonel General
Colonel General
Colonel General is a senior rank of General. North Korea and Russia are two countries which have used the rank extensively throughout their histories...
/Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
). North Korean generals and admirals wear one to four stars.
There are also three marshal ranks above this: Chasu
Chasu
Chasu is a superior military rank of North Korea, often translated as Vice-Marshal. The rank is senior to that of Daejang and junior to that of Wonsu...
(meaning 'vice marshal'), Wonsu
Wonsu
Wonsu is a very high military rank of the armed forces of the Republic of Korea and of North Korea.-South Korea:Wonsu, known in English as "General of the Army of the Republic of Korea", is the highest military rank of the Republic of Korea armed forces and is the combined equivalent of a Field...
(meaning 'marshal') and Dae Wonsu
Dae Wonsu
Dae wonsu is the highest possible military rank of North Korea and is intended to be held solely by the nation’s commander-in-chief. The rank is senior to that of wonsu...
(meaning 'grand marshal').
The insignia for Daejang is based upon the former Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
military rank insignia (before 1974) for Generals of the Army and modern Generals of the Army of Russia, and in the naval versions, the Soviet (before 1974) and Russian (after 1994) rank insignias for Admirals of the Fleet
Admiral of the Fleet
An admiral of the fleet is a military naval officer of the highest rank. In many nations the rank is reserved for wartime or ceremonial appointments...
. It is also the highest rank which is effectively held by the professional military, since the higher ranks are normally seen more as combined military-political titles.
South Korea
Daejang is senior to South KoreaSouth Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
's three other General and Admiral ranks: Chunjang (Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
/ Rear Admiral Lower Half), Sojang (Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
/ Rear Admiral Upper Half) and Jungjang
Jungjang
Jungjang is the South Korean equivalent of a Lieutenant General. It outranks the Sojang, equivalent to a Major General. The rank is also held by Korean Vice Admirals and uses three stars as its badge of rank, much like the United States version....
(Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
/ Vice Admiral
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
). South Korean generals wear one to four stars as a badge of rank.
The higher rank of Wonsu
Wonsu
Wonsu is a very high military rank of the armed forces of the Republic of Korea and of North Korea.-South Korea:Wonsu, known in English as "General of the Army of the Republic of Korea", is the highest military rank of the Republic of Korea armed forces and is the combined equivalent of a Field...
(Marshal) has never been used. Currently, eight (sometimes nine) officers of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces
Military of South Korea
The Republic of Korea Armed Forces or ROK Armed Forces, is the armed forces of the Republic of Korea...
in active service hold the rank of Daejang.
- Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffJoint Chiefs of Staff (Republic of Korea)Joint Chiefs of Staff of Republic of Korea is a group of Chiefs from each major branch of the armed services in the Republic of Korea Armed Forces. Unlike his/her United States counterpart, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has Operational Control over all military personnel of the Armed...
& Chief Director of the Joint Defense Headquarters - Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea ArmyRepublic of Korea ArmyThe Republic of Korea Army is the largest of the military branches of the South Korean armed forces with 520,000 members as of 2010...
- Chief of Naval Operations of the Republic of Korea NavyRepublic of Korea NavyThe Republic of Korea Navy or the ROK Navy is the branch of the South Korean armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations and amphibious landing operations. The ROK Navy includes the Republic of Korea Marine Corps, which is a quasi-autonomous organization...
- Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Air ForceRepublic of Korea Air ForceThe Republic of Korea Air Force is the air force of South Korea...
- Deputy Commander, Republic of Korea - United States Combined Forces Command (ROKUSCFC) & Commanding General, Ground Component Command, ROKUSCFC
- Commanding General, First ROK Army
- Commanding General, Army Second Operations Command
- Commanding General, Third ROK Army
- Deputy Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (optional 4-stars position)