July 4, 2025: A year ago, South Korea commissioned the first of its new class of destroyers, Jeongjo the Great. This ship displaces 10,000 tons when fully loaded. The 165-meter-long vessel has a top speed of nearly 60 kilometers per hour and an endurance of 30 days. Its crew of 300 operates a comprehensive array of surface search and fire control radars, as well as hull-mounted and towed sonars for submarine detection. The ship is equipped with electronic and flare-based countermeasures to defend against incoming anti-ship missiles. Its weapons include a 127mm main gun capable of firing up to 20 31.7-kg shells per minute, with a range of 24 kilometers using standard shells or 37 kilometers with lighter shells. The destroyer has 88 Vertical Launch System (VLS) cells containing a mix of anti-aircraft, anti-submarine, anti-ship, and land-attack missiles. Additionally, it carries one Phalanx 20mm autocannon for point defense against anti-ship missiles and two 21-ton multipurpose helicopters for personnel transport, search and rescue, or anti-submarine warfare.

Six of these destroyers are planned, with four completed and two under construction, scheduled for delivery in 2026 and 2027.

The South Korean Navy currently operates 160 ships with a total displacement of 233,000 tons, including 21 submarines, 13 destroyers, 18 frigates, three corvettes, and 34 patrol boats, as well as 21 amphibious warfare ships. Frigates and submarines serve as the first line of defense along South Korea’s coasts, while patrol boats monitor and report encounters. Larger warships handle any threats. Frigates are the most prominent ships defending the coasts, while destroyers and larger submarines operate farther from shore.

Since 2017, all South Korean Navy ships have been built domestically. In 2016, South Korea retired its last U.S.-built warship, a 3,000-ton salvage and rescue ship, USS Beaufort, which entered U.S. service in 1972. Transferred to South Korea in 1996, it served as Pyeongtaek (ATS-27) for 20 years. South Korea commissioned two locally designed and built ATS ships in 2014 and 2016.

South Korea began designing and building its own warships in the late 1970s, starting with patrol boats, progressing to corvettes and frigates in the 1980s, and expanding to amphibious ships, submarines, and destroyers in the 1990s. After 2000, South Korea developed larger destroyers similar to U.S. Aegis-class ships. By the 1990s, South Korea started exporting warships to other Asian nations, a trend that continues to grow. The latest South Korean warship is the 4,200-ton frigate Chungnam, the first of six FFX-III-class ships.

In 2013, South Korea commissioned its first FFX frigate. These 3,200-ton ships are armed with a 127mm gun, eight anti-ship or cruise missiles, three torpedo tubes, a RAM anti-missile launcher, and a Phalanx anti-missile gun system. They have space aft for two helicopters and are designed for coastal defense, replacing older Ulsan-class frigates and Pohang-class corvettes. In 1986, a Pohang-class corvette sank a North Korean gunboat that entered South Korean waters and refused to withdraw. In a similar 1996 incident, two North Korean warships complied with orders to retreat.

The 24 Pohang-class corvettes come in two variants: an anti-ship version with two Exocet anti-ship missiles, a 76mm gun, and a twin 30mm anti-aircraft gun, and an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) version with two 76mm guns, two triple 12.75-inch torpedo tubes, and two twin 40mm anti-aircraft guns.

FFX frigates are highly automated, requiring a crew of only 140. They have a top speed of 61 kilometers per hour and a range of 8,000 kilometers. Most equipment, including electronics and weapons, is locally built. South Korea plans to build at least 15 FFX ships, with the first six in service by 2015. The lead ship, Ulsan, cost over $110 million. South Korea aims to export the FFX to navies seeking high-quality, cost-effective warships. Additionally, South Korea is expanding its production of larger warships and submarines.

South Korea has prioritized amphibious operations, critical for potential conflicts with North Korea. In 2018, the navy commissioned the last four of eight LST II-class amphibious assault ships. These 7,100-ton vessels can carry 300 troops and 10–20 vehicles, with a landing pad for two helicopters and two smaller landing craft for beach operations. The ships are 126 meters long, 19 meters wide, and have a crew of 120. Their top speed is 42 kilometers per hour, with a cruising speed of 32 kilometers per hour, allowing them to remain at sea for 18 days. Armament includes anti-missile systems and a 76mm gun. The first LST II entered service in 2015. The navy also operates four 1990s-era LST I-class ships and two 18,000-ton Dokdo-class LPH helicopter landing ships, which carry 720 marines, ten helicopters, and 200 vehicles delivered ashore via landing craft or hovercraft.

The LST II-class ships support an expansion of South Korea’s amphibious forces. The South Korean Marine Corps grew from 25,000 to 29,000 personnel, organized into two divisions and a brigade. As part of this expansion, a new brigade and helicopter squadron were established to guard the North Korean border on the west coast. The aviation battalion operates 30 Korean Utility Helicopters (KUHs), nicknamed Surion. These 8.7-ton helicopters carry two pilots and 11 passengers, can hover up to 3,000 meters, and have a top speed of 240 kilometers per hour. They can be armed with 7.62mm machine guns, and 60% of their components are made in South Korea.

The South Korean Marine Corps is equipped with 60 LVTP-7 amphibious vehicles, 42 AAV-7A1s, and 60 K-1 tanks. Officially under navy control, the marines typically operate under army command. Approximately 5,000 marines are stationed on the west coast, including nearby islands, with the new brigade expanding this presence.

In 2016, the marines formed a rapid-deployment brigade called Spartan 3000, with 3,000 personnel trained to deploy anywhere on the Korean Peninsula within 24 hours. Marines rotate through Spartan 3000 due to its demanding nature. The brigade is designed to counter North Korean special operations forces and target key objectives in North Korea, supported by about 1,000 additional South Korean special operations troops.

The South Korean Marine Corps is considered an elite force, despite many troops being draftees. Even draftees view marine service as an honor. Mentored by the U.S. Marine Corps, South Korean marines have earned recognition for their proficiency.