Korea Army Officer Candidate School


Korea Army Officer Candidate School provides training to become a commissioned officer in the Republic of Korea Army. Korea Army Officer Candidate School was first proposed on 28 June 1981. Between 1981 and 2024, over 53,273 candidates were enrolled in 69 KAOCS classes and were commissioned as Second Lieutenants.
WWW armyofficer.mil.kr:460

History

On 28 June 1981, the Republic of Korea Army established the Korea Army Officer Candidate School at Army Infantry School, Gwangju, Korea. In September 1981, the first Infantry KAOCS class graduated 632 second lieutenants. Beginning with the second class in 1982, KAOCS had been trained at Korea Third Military Academy due to the closing of cadet course in Korea Third Military Academy. From 2012, KAOCS have training at Army Cadet Military School, Goesan, Korea. Between 1981 and 2024, over 53,273 candidates were enrolled in 69 KAOCS classes and were commissioned as Second Lieutenants.

Qualification requirements

A candidate of KAOCS must:
Applicants to the KAOCS go through a screening process; a written exam, an interview and health examination, and a background check.
The applicant must agree to accept a commission and serve in the Republic of Korea Army on active duty.

Training

Training

Excluding the first week of orientation, KAOCS is a 16-week-long program for college graduates pursuing a commission in the Republic of Korea Army. KAOCS is programmed to teach basic leadership and Soldier tasks, using the Infantry battle drills found in Army Field Manual. The first five weeks of training are geared toward indoctrination. The focus is on physical training, drill and ceremonies, and standardization. The last 11 weeks of training are geared toward officership. The training consists of military history, leadership, field exercises, drill and ceremonies, and small arms training. Trainees are given ranks of officer candidate.
  • Orientation
  • * Military custom and courtesies
  • Basic training
  • * Physical training, drill and ceremonies, and standardization
  • Training for officership
  • * Military history, leadership, field exercises, drill and ceremonies, and small arms training

Commission

Upon completion of KAOCS program, graduates are commissioned as Second Lieutenants and then attend the rest of their Officer Basic Course which trains the new officers into their Basic Branch skills. After commissioning, they serve for three years; an individual may choose to extend his or her service past the required period in pursuit of an active military career.

Promotion

Between 1981 and 2024, over 53,273 candidates were enrolled in 69 KAOCS classes and were commissioned as Second Lieutenants. Now, 24 general officers, about 3,000 senior officers, and 10,000 Junior officers serve in the Republic of Korea Army. Brigadier General Hyun-suk Jeong, Brigadier General Sang-yun Lee, Brigadier General Hyang-hyeok Bang, Brigadier General U-gyo Jeong, and Brigadier General Yong-moon Cho are very famous.

Notable graduates

  • Members of Congress
  • *Jong-bae Lee
  • *Seok-jun Song
  • *Jun-byong Yun
  • *Bu-nam yang
  • *Sun-young Kang
  • *Jae-kwan Lee
  • Former Member of Congress
  • *Sung-jung Park
  • *Dong-wan Kim
  • *Byung-hun Jeon
  • *Heui-kuk Kim
  • Governors
  • *Jeong-bok Ryu
  • *Heon-yul Jung
  • *Sung Lee
  • *Sung-il Park
  • *Kwang-sil Bae
  • University Professors
  • *Bon-chung Ku
  • *Dong-il Rho
  • *Dae-jeong Kim
  • *Min-cheol Choi
  • *Yeon-ju Jeong
  • *Ho-geun Kong
  • *Chun-han Yun
  • *Il-su Kim
  • *Uel-hyung Lee
  • *Lewis Hyukseung Lee
  • General officers
  • *Lieutenant General Jin-kyu Choi
  • *Lieutenant General Yeong-min So
  • *Major General Sun-young Kang
  • *Major General Sung-jae Park
  • *Major General Su-deuk Lee
  • *Brigadier General Hyun-suk Jeong
  • *Brigadier General Sang-yun Lee
  • *Brigadier General Hyang-hyeok Bang
  • *Brigadier General U-gyo Jeong
  • *Brigadier General Yong-moon Cho