The Republic of Korea Army (ROKA; Korean: 대한민국 육군; Hanja: 大韓民國陸軍; RR: Daehanminguk Yukgun), also known as the ROK Army or South Korean Army, is the army of South Korea, responsible for ground-based warfare. It is the largest of the military branches of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces with 420,000 members as of 2020. This size is maintained through conscription; South Korean men must complete military service (18 months for army, auxiliary police and marine, 20 months for navy and conscripted firefighter, 21 months for air force and social service, 36 months for alternative service) between the age of 18 and 35. History The modern South Korean army traces its lineage back to the Gwangmu Reform, when the Byeolgigun was established by Emperor Gojong in 1881. The 1st of every October is celebrated in South Korea as Armed Forces Day. It commemorates the day during the Korean War when units of...