Gwanggaeto the Great-class destroyer
The Gwanggaeto the Great-class destroyers, often called KDX-I, are destroyers, but are classified by some as frigates, operated by the Republic of Korea Navy. It was the first phase of ROKN's KDX program, in moving the ROK Navy from a coastal defence force to a blue-water navy.
ROKS Gwanggaeto the Great underway at sea in 2009
ROKS Eulji Mundeok (DDH-972) rafted next to ROKS Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin (DDH-975) in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii during RIMPAC 2004
HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej (FFG 471)
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.
Early 15th century Korean turtle ship in an illustration dating to 1795
ROKS Baekdusan (PC 701), the first warship of the ROK Navy, undergoing refitting at Hawaii in March 1950
A ROKN sailor places a S. Korean naval ensign on a torpedo boat, after its transfer by the U.S. in the midst of the Korean War.
Ex-USN Cannon-class destroyer escorts transferred to the ROK Navy at Boston in 1956
