Wonsu
Encyclopedia
Wonsu is a very high military rank of the armed forces of the Republic of Korea
and of North 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
(ROK) armed forces
and is the combined equivalent of a Field Marshal
, Fleet Admiral and Marshal of the Air Force
in other nations. The rank is senior to that of Daejang
. Wonsu only exists on paper, and has never been held by an officer of the South Korean Armed Forces. According to the Armed Forces Personnel Act of National Defense Law of the Republic of Korea, the Wonsu is appointed from the Daejang who has distinguished achievements.
The South Korean rank insignia for Wonsu is heavily influenced by United States military insignia, in that a five-star pentagon design is used very similar to the U.S. rank of General of the Army
.
of North Korea
, equivalent to Marshal
in other armies.
While he was the Supreme Commander, Kim Il Sung became North Korea's first Marshal during the Korean War by the decision of the Supreme People's Assembly. Period photographic evidence demonstrates that the early Marshal shoulder board rank insignia was the same as that of the current Vice Marshal shoulder boards (a large star overlain with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea coat-of-arms).
The rank of Vice Marshal (Chasu
) is unique to the North Korean ranking system. Vice Marshal was first conferred in February 1953 to Choe Yong Gon. Sources suggest that the shoulder board rank insignia for Marshal and Vice Marshal then became a single large star without the coat-of-arms (for Marshal) and the coat-of-arms without star (for Vice Marshal). By the time the next conferral of rank to Vice Marshal was awarded (1985), the shoulder board rank insignia for Marshal and Vice Marshal had taken on their current design.
The next change in the DPRK Marshal ranks took place in 1992 when the rank of Dae Wonsu
or Grand Marshal (full title Grand Marshal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea) was created for Kim Il Sung. At this time the rank of Marshal was divided into two grades: the rank Marshal with the title "Marshal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea" was conferred upon Kim Il Sung's son; the rank of Marshal with the title "Marshal of the Korean People's Army" was conferred upon O Jin U and later Marshals of the Korean People's Army (conferred in 1995 to Choe Kwang and Li Ul-sol). Insignia of rank of the two grades of Marshal are different (with the insignia for Marshal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea being more like that of Grand Marshal - Grand Marshal has a larger wreath encompassing the marshal's star).
Also, in 1992 eight other generals were promoted to Vice Marshal at which time in North Korea there was one Grand Marshal, one Marshal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, one Marshal of the Korean People's Army and eight Vice Marshals.
"mortal enemy" (怨讐). The two words have different etymologies and hanja
, but in South Korea are homophonous and so are written identically in hangul
. In North Korea, the government has addressed the issue by changing the word for "enemy" to "wonssu" (원쑤).
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...
and of North Korea
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...
.
South Korea
Comparative military ranks of Korea
Comparative military ranks of Korea refer to the ranks and insignia maintained by the three primary military powers present on the Korean Peninsula, those being the Republic of Korea Armed Forces , the Korean People's Army of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , and the military forces of...
of the Republic of 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...
(ROK) 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...
and is the combined equivalent of a Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
, Fleet Admiral and Marshal of the Air Force
Marshal of the Air Force
Marshal of the Air Force is the English term for the most senior rank in a number of air forces. The ranks described by this term can properly be considered marshal ranks....
in other nations. The rank is senior to that of Daejang
Daejang
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...
. Wonsu only exists on paper, and has never been held by an officer of the South Korean Armed Forces. According to the Armed Forces Personnel Act of National Defense Law of the Republic of Korea, the Wonsu is appointed from the Daejang who has distinguished achievements.
The South Korean rank insignia for Wonsu is heavily influenced by United States military insignia, in that a five-star pentagon design is used very similar to the U.S. rank of General of the Army
General of the Army (United States)
General of the Army is a five-star general officer and is the second highest possible rank in the United States Army. A special rank of General of the Armies, which ranks above General of the Army, does exist but has only been conferred twice in the history of the Army...
.
North Korea
Wonsu is a rank in the Korean People's ArmyKorean People's Army
The Korean People's Army , also known as the Inmin Gun, are the military forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kim Jong-il is the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and Chairman of the National Defence Commission...
of North Korea
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...
, equivalent to Marshal
Marshal
Marshal , is a word used in several official titles of various branches of society. The word is an ancient loan word from Old French, cf...
in other armies.
While he was the Supreme Commander, Kim Il Sung became North Korea's first Marshal during the Korean War by the decision of the Supreme People's Assembly. Period photographic evidence demonstrates that the early Marshal shoulder board rank insignia was the same as that of the current Vice Marshal shoulder boards (a large star overlain with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea coat-of-arms).
The rank of Vice Marshal (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...
) is unique to the North Korean ranking system. Vice Marshal was first conferred in February 1953 to Choe Yong Gon. Sources suggest that the shoulder board rank insignia for Marshal and Vice Marshal then became a single large star without the coat-of-arms (for Marshal) and the coat-of-arms without star (for Vice Marshal). By the time the next conferral of rank to Vice Marshal was awarded (1985), the shoulder board rank insignia for Marshal and Vice Marshal had taken on their current design.
The next change in the DPRK Marshal ranks took place in 1992 when the rank of 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...
or Grand Marshal (full title Grand Marshal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea) was created for Kim Il Sung. At this time the rank of Marshal was divided into two grades: the rank Marshal with the title "Marshal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea" was conferred upon Kim Il Sung's son; the rank of Marshal with the title "Marshal of the Korean People's Army" was conferred upon O Jin U and later Marshals of the Korean People's Army (conferred in 1995 to Choe Kwang and Li Ul-sol). Insignia of rank of the two grades of Marshal are different (with the insignia for Marshal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea being more like that of Grand Marshal - Grand Marshal has a larger wreath encompassing the marshal's star).
Also, in 1992 eight other generals were promoted to Vice Marshal at which time in North Korea there was one Grand Marshal, one Marshal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, one Marshal of the Korean People's Army and eight Vice Marshals.
Meaning
Coincidentally, "wonsu" is also a word meaningAuto-antonym
An auto-antonym , or contranym , is a word with a homograph that is also an antonym...
"mortal enemy" (怨讐). The two words have different etymologies and hanja
Hanja
Hanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation...
, but in South Korea are homophonous and so are written identically in hangul
Hangul
Hangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
. In North Korea, the government has addressed the issue by changing the word for "enemy" to "wonssu" (원쑤).
See also
- Military of South KoreaMilitary of South KoreaThe Republic of Korea Armed Forces or ROK Armed Forces, is the armed forces of the Republic of Korea...
- Military of North Korea
- Dae WonsuDae WonsuDae 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...
- Six-star rank