Republic of Korea Reserve Forces

The Republic of Korea Reserve Forces (ROKRF; Korean: 대한민국 예비군), also known as the ROK Reserve Forces, is the 3,100,000-strong reserve force of South Korea.

Republic of Korea Reserve Forces
대한민국 예비군
Flag
Country	South Korea
Allegiance	Citizens of South Korea (since 2011) The Korean race (until April 2011)
Nickname	"Yebigoon"
March	"Song of Homeland Defense" (향토 방위의 노래)^{[citation needed]}

Republic of Korea Reserve Forces
Hangul	대한민국 예비군
Hanja	大韓民國豫備軍
RR	Daehanminguk yebigun
MR	Taehanmin'guk yebigun

There are two major branches of the Reserve Forces: the Mobilization Reserve Forces (Korean: 동원예비군; Hanja: 動員豫備軍) and the Homeland Reserve Forces (향토예비군; 鄕土豫備軍), a Home Guard type force.

Soldiers who have completed their service in the Republic of Korea Armed Forces are automatically transferred to the Reserve Forces and must first serve 4 years in the Mobilization Reserve and then 4 years as an Homeland Reservist. During wartime, about 5 divisions would be formed under the Mobilization Reserves, and deployed to the war zone to provide support and regional stabilization. In the meantime, the Homeland Reserve would defend the homeland from any possible attacks from the enemy.

History

The Homeland Reserve Force was established in April 1968 as part of a nationwide program to increase emergency defense capabilities in response to increased North Korean infiltration. In January 1968, a North Korean commando unit infiltrated Seoul and attacked the Blue House Presidential residence in an attempt to assassinate South Korean dictator Park Chung Hee.

That same month, two additional North Korean commando units launched attacks on towns on the Korean east coast in attempts to create an insurgency.

Civil defense

In 1980 there were over 90,000 civil defense personnel in the country. By 1990 there were more than 3.5 million civil defense personnel in reserve. Their missions included air raid defense, search and rescue missions, building and road repair.

Most of the units are now stationary since the threat of North Korean attacks are not increasingly present. However, some units still maintain active training duties, and can be spotted in military installations.

Equipment

Small Arms

Daewoo K2
M16A1
M1 Garand(out of service)
M1 Carbine
M1911
Panzerfaust 3
Daewoo Precision Industries K3
M72 LAW
M60 machine gun

Vehicles

M113(Replaced by other armored vehicles)
M48A3K
K1 88-Tank
Raycolt KLTV
M35 series 2½-ton 6×6 cargo truck
T-80(for pre-active personnel only)

History

Civil defense

Equipment

Small Arms

Vehicles

See also