About

The Republic of Korea Marine Corps (ROKMC) is a national strategic mobile force under the Republic of Korea Navy, primarily tasked with amphibious operations during wartime. Marine Mottos • Once a Marine, Always a Marine • Ghost-catching Marines • Invincible Marines • Until it's done The Marine Corps salute is "Pilsung" (Certain Victory), the same as the Navy. List of Units under the Marine Corps Headquarters • 1st Marine Division • 2nd Marine Division • 6th Marine Brigade • 9th Marine Brigade • Yeonpyeong Unit • Marine Corps Education and Training Group • Marine Corps Logistics Group • Marine Corps Aircraft Group • Marine Corps Special Reconnaissance Brigade Units under the 1st Marine Division • 2nd Marine Brigade • 3rd Marine Brigade • 7th Marine Brigade • 1st Marine Division Artillery Brigade Units under the 2nd Marine Division • 1st Marine Brigade • 5th Marine Brigade • 8th Marine Brigade • 2nd Marine Division Artillery Brigade Enlisted Marines are recruited on a voluntary basis. Marine Corps Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) are selected after passing document screening, interviews, and physical fitness tests. Following a background check, they become NCO candidates and receive training at the Marine Corps Education and Training Group. The Korea Naval Academy is the institution that produces Marine Corps officers. While Marine officers are sometimes thought to be pro-Navy because they graduate from the Naval Academy, this is not actually the case. The Commandant of the Marine Corps is a Lieutenant General, the Vice Commandant is a Brigadier General, Division Commanders are Major Generals, and Brigade Commanders are Brigadier Generals. Regents are Colonels, Battalion Commanders are Lieutenant Colonels, Company Commanders are Captains, and Platoon Leaders are Second Lieutenants. The ranks, in ascending order, are Private, Private First Class, Corporal, Sergeant, Staff Sergeant, Sergeant First Class, Master Sergeant, Sergeant Major, Warrant Officer, Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel, Brigadier General, Major General, Lieutenant General, and General. Enlisted personnel range from Private to Sergeant; NCOs range from Staff Sergeant to Sergeant Major; Warrant Officers are warrant-grade; Company-grade officers range from Second Lieutenant to Captain; Field-grade officers range from Major to Colonel; and General officers range from Brigadier General to General. Famous for their uniquely strong sense of camaraderie, the ROK Marines take pride in being an elite force compared to the regular soldiers of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Bizarre and irrational levels of military misconduct have become somewhat symbolic of the Marine Corps. Compared to other branches where hazing and misconduct have largely disappeared, irregularities and bad habits still persist here. Company-grade and field-grade officers live in military apartments, while general officers live in official residences provided by the state. These residences are staffed by residence orderlies who manage the property, run errands, and handle housework. From the rank of General officer, high-end vehicles and helicopters are available for transport. Civilians are strictly prohibited from entering the base. Even family members cannot enter unless it is for an official visit. Family or relatives of general officers may enter after verification with the general. Total Marine Corps personnel numbers 28,000. Marine Corps Headquarters is located in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi-do. 1st Marine Division Headquarters is in Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do. 2nd Marine Division Headquarters is in Gimpo, Gyeonggi-do and Incheon. 6th Marine Brigade Headquarters is in Ongjin-gun, Incheon. 9th Marine Brigade Headquarters is in Jeju Special Self-Governing Province. The Yeonpyeong Unit is located on Yeonpyeong Island, Ongjin-gun, Incheon. All soldiers wear combat uniforms while on base. Although the Commandant of the Marine Corps holds the rank of Lieutenant General, it has been customary since 1998, as part of improving the command structure, to treat the Commandant as the most senior Lieutenant General in the entire ROK Armed Forces. Since there are seven four-star Generals in the military, the Commandant ranks 8th in the overall protocol order of active-duty generals. Generals have four stars, Lieutenant Generals have three, Major Generals have two, and Brigadier Generals have one. Seoyeon is the eldest, Junseo is the second, and Seojun is the youngest.