The United States Forces Korea (USFK) is a sub-unified command of U.S.
Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). USFK is the joint headquarters for U.S. combat-ready fighting forces and components under the ROK/US Combined Forces Command (CFC) – a supreme command for all of the South Korean and U.S. ground, air, sea and special operations component commands. Major USFK elements include U.S. Eighth Army (EUSA), U.S. Air Forces Korea (Seventh Air Force), U.S. Naval Forces Korea (CNFK), U.S. Marine Forces Korea (MARFORK) and U.S. Special Operations Command Korea (SOCKOR). It was established on July 1, 1957.
United States Forces Korea 주한 미군 | |
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Active | 1 July 1957 – present (66 years, 9 months) |
Country | United States |
Type | Subordinate unified command |
Size | 23,468 personnel |
Part of | U.S. Indo-Pacific Command |
Headquarters | Camp Humphreys, Pyeongtaek, South Korea |
Nickname(s) | USFK |
Website | www |
Commanders | |
Commander UNC/CFC/USFK | GEN Paul J. LaCamera, USA |
Deputy Commander | Lt Gen David R. Iverson, USAF |
Command Sergeant Major | CSM Jack H. Love, USA |
Notable commanders | |
Insignia | |
Distinctive unit insignia | |
Flag |
United States Forces Korea | |
Hangul | |
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Hanja | |
Revised Romanization | Juhanmigun |
McCune–Reischauer | Chuhanmigun |
Its mission is to support the United Nations Command (UNC) and Combined Forces Command by coordinating and planning among U.S. component commands, and exercise operational control of U.S. forces as directed by United States Indo-Pacific Command.
USFK has Title 10 authority, which means that USFK is responsible for organizing, training and equipping U.S. forces on the Korean Peninsula so that forces are agile, adaptable and ready.
With 28,500 U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines in South Korea, U.S. forces in South Korea are a major presence in the region and a key manifestation of the U.S. government's aim to rebalance toward the Asia-Pacific. The USFK mission also includes planning non-combatant evacuation operations to ensure that if the need arises, U.S. and other previously agreed-upon countries' citizens are removed from harm's way. To this end, USFK conducts routine exercises to ensure that this process is effective, efficient, and orderly.
With the relocation of the new USFK and UNC headquarters to Camp Humphreys (in Pyeongtaek) on 29 June 2018, the USFK command and the majority of its subordinate units have officially moved out of the city of Seoul; headquarters are now 35 km (22 mi) further south.
While USFK is a separate organization from United Nations Command (UNC) and ROK/US Combined Forces Command (CFC), its mission is to support both UNC and CFC by coordinating and planning among US component commands and providing US supporting forces to the CFC. As such, USFK continues to support the ROK-US Mutual Defense Treaty.
In response to the North Korean attack against South Korea on 25 June 1950, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) established the UNC as a unified command under the US in UNSC Resolution 84 on 7 July 1950. The UNC mission was to assist South Korea to repel the attack and restore international peace and security in Korea. Throughout the war, 53 nations provided support to the UNC; 16 nations provided combat forces and five sent medical and hospital units. After three years of hostilities, the commanders of both sides signed the Armistice Agreement on 27 July 1953.
Hostilities today are also deterred by this bi-national defense team that evolved from the multi-national UNC. Established on 7 November 1978, the ROK/US Combined Forces Command (CFC) is the warfighting headquarters. Its role is to deter, or defeat if necessary, outside aggression against the ROK.
No. | Commander | Term | Service branch | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Term length | ||
1 | General George Decker (1902–1980) | 1 July 1957 | 30 June 1959 | 1 year, 364 days | U.S. Army | |
2 | General Carter B. Magruder (1900–1988) | 1 July 1959 | 30 June 1961 | 1 year, 364 days | U.S. Army | |
3 | General Guy S. Meloy (1903–1968) | 1 July 1961 | 31 July 1963 | 2 years, 30 days | U.S. Army | |
4 | General Hamilton H. Howze (1908–1998) | 1 August 1963 | 15 June 1965 | 1 year, 318 days | U.S. Army | |
5 | General Dwight E. Beach (1908–2000) | 16 June 1965 | 31 August 1966 | 1 year, 76 days | U.S. Army | |
6 | General Charles H. Bonesteel III (1909–1977) | 1 September 1966 | 30 September 1969 | 3 years, 29 days | U.S. Army | |
7 | General John H. Michaelis (1912–1985) | 1 October 1969 | 31 August 1972 | 2 years, 335 days | U.S. Army | |
8 | General Donald V. Bennett (1915–2005) | 1 September 1972 | 31 July 1973 | 333 days | U.S. Army | |
9 | General Richard G. Stilwell (1917–1991) | 1 August 1973 | 8 October 1976 | 3 years, 68 days | U.S. Army | |
10 | General John W. Vessey Jr. (1922–2016) | 8 October 1976 | 10 July 1979 | 2 years, 275 days | U.S. Army | |
11 | General John A. Wickham Jr. (born 1928) | 10 July 1979 | 4 June 1982 | 2 years, 329 days | U.S. Army | |
12 | General Robert W. Sennewald (born 1929) | 4 June 1982 | 1 June 1984 | 1 year, 363 days | U.S. Army | |
13 | General William J. Livsey (1931–2016) | 1 June 1984 | 25 June 1987 | 3 years, 24 days | U.S. Army | |
14 | General Louis C. Menetrey Jr. (1929–2009) | 25 June 1987 | 26 June 1990 | 3 years, 1 day | U.S. Army | |
15 | General Robert W. RisCassi (born 1936) | 26 June 1990 | 15 June 1993 | 2 years, 354 days | U.S. Army | |
16 | General Gary E. Luck (born 1937) | 15 June 1993 | 9 July 1996 | 3 years, 24 days | U.S. Army | |
17 | General John H. Tilelli Jr. (born 1941) | 9 July 1996 | 9 December 1999 | 3 years, 153 days | U.S. Army | |
18 | General Thomas A. Schwartz (born 1945) | 9 December 1999 | 1 May 2002 | 2 years, 143 days | U.S. Army | |
19 | General Leon J. LaPorte (born 1946) | 1 May 2002 | 3 February 2006 | 3 years, 278 days | U.S. Army | |
20 | General B.B. Bell (born 1947) | 3 February 2006 | 3 June 2008 | 2 years, 121 days | U.S. Army | |
21 | General Walter L. Sharp (born 1952) | 3 June 2008 | 14 July 2011 | 3 years, 41 days | U.S. Army | |
22 | General James D. Thurman (born 1953) | 14 July 2011 | 12 October 2013 | 2 years, 80 days | U.S. Army | |
23 | General Curtis M. Scaparrotti (born 1956) | 2 October 2013 | 30 April 2016 | 2 years, 211 days | U.S. Army | |
24 | General Vincent K. Brooks (born 1958) | 30 April 2016 | 8 November 2018 | 2 years, 192 days | U.S. Army | |
25 | General Robert B. Abrams (born 1960) | 8 November 2018 | 2 July 2021 | 2 years, 236 days | U.S. Army | |
26 | General Paul LaCamera (born 1963) | 2 July 2021 | Incumbent | 2 years, 301 days | U.S. Army |
The following is a partial list of border incidents involving North Korea since the Armistice Agreement of 27 July 1953, ended large scale military action of the Korean War. Most of these incidents took place near either the Korean Demilitarized Zone or the Northern Limit Line. This list includes engagements on land, air and sea but does not include alleged incursions and terrorist incidents that occurred away from the border.
Many of the incidents occurring at sea are due to border disputes. The North claims jurisdiction over a large area south of the disputed western maritime border, the Northern Limit Line in the waters west of the Korean Peninsula. This is a prime fishing area, particularly for crabs, and clashes commonly occur. In addition, the North claims its territorial waters extend for 50 nautical miles (90 km) from the coast, rather than the 12 nautical miles (22 km) recognized by other countries. According to the 5 January 2011 Korea Herald, since July 1953 North Korea has violated the armistice 221 times, including 26 military attacks.
Year | Number |
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1950 | 510 |
1951 | 42,069 |
1952 | 326,863 |
1953 | 326,863 |
1954 | 225,590 |
1955 | 75,328 |
1956 | 68,813 |
1957 | 71,045 |
1958 | 46,024 |
1959 | 49,827 |
1960 | 55,864 |
1961 | 57,694 |
1962 | 60,947 |
1963 | 56,910 |
1964 | 62,596 |
1965 | 58,636 |
1966 | 47,076 |
1967 | 55,057 |
1968 | 62,263 |
1969 | 66,531 |
1970 | 52,197 |
1971 | 40,740 |
1972 | 41,600 |
1973 | 41,864 |
1974 | 40,387 |
1975 | 40,204 |
1976 | 39,133 |
1977 | 40,705 |
1978 | 41,565 |
1979 | 39,018 |
1980 | 38,780 |
1981 | 38,254 |
1982 | 39,194 |
1983 | 38,705 |
1984 | 40,785 |
1985 | 41,718 |
1986 | 43,133 |
1987 | 44,674 |
1988 | 45,501 |
1989 | 44,461 |
1990 | 41,344 |
1991 | 40,062 |
1992 | 35,743 |
1993 | 34,830 |
1994 | 36,796 |
1995 | 36,016 |
1996 | 36,539 |
1997 | 35,663 |
1998 | 36,890 |
1999 | 35,913 |
2000 | 36,565 |
2001 | 37,605 |
2002 | 37,743 |
2003 | 41,145 |
2004 | 40,840 |
2005 | 30,983 |
2020 | 28,500 |
Sources: |
This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2013) |
Each year the ROK, the US and a selection of Sending States from the United Nations Command participate in multiple defense-oriented, combined and joint training events designed to defend the Republic of Korea, protect the region, and maintain and increase stability on the Korean peninsula.
Ulchi-Freedom Guardian, Key Resolve, and Foal Eagle, in addition to multiple Rehearsal of Concept (ROC) Drills, are the three theater level exercises.
In June 2018 the South Korea and the US claimed they are ready to stop the conducting of military drills in order to create significant opportunities for the negotiations with DPRK.
A shield-shaped embroidered device 3+1⁄8 inches (7.9 cm) in height and 2+1⁄2 inches (6.4 cm) in width overall blazoned: azure, in chief four mullets bendwise argent, all above a stylized American bald eagle, issuant from sinister base volant to dexter chief; the eagle's body gules surmounted by two bendlets, wider at base, of the second throughout; head of the second, eyed of the field, leg and talons of the second grasping a laurel branch and seven arrows or. The entire shield shape is edged with a 1⁄16-inch (0.16 cm) white border. Attached above the device is a designation band in scarlet inscribed "USFK" in white letters. The entire device is edged with a 1⁄8-inch (0.32 cm) blue border.
The shield shape reflects the United States Forces Korea's steadfast commitment to defend the sovereignty of South Korea. The abbreviation "USFK" stands for United States Forces Korea which activated on 1 July 1957. The four stars symbolize the service and contributions of the United States Army, United States Navy, United States Air Force, and the United States Marine Corps. The stylized American bald eagle represents cohesion and unity among the services. The laurel sprigs and arrows depict the mission of the United States Forces Korea to defeat aggression if necessary. Red, white, and blue are the colors of the flag of the United States of America. Red symbolizes hard work and honor, white represents innocence and purity, and blue refers to justice and perseverance. Yellow signifies wisdom and intuition.
The shoulder sleeve insignia was approved on 18 June 2012. (TIOH Dwg. No. A-1-1077).
The 1980s marked a surge in anti-Americanism in Korea, widely traced to the events of May 1980.
Gwangju convinced a new generation of young [Koreans] that the democratic movement had developed not with the support of Washington, as an older generation of more conservative Koreans thought, but in the face of daily American support for any dictator who could quell the democratic aspirations of the Korean people. The result was an anti-American movement in the 1980s that threatened to bring down the whole structure of American support for the ROK. American cultural centers were burned to the ground (more than once in Gwangju); students immolated themselves in protest of Reagan's support for Chun [Doo-hwan].
Fundamental to this movement was a perception of U.S. complicity in Chun's rise to power, and, more particularly, in the Gwangju massacre itself. These matters remain controversial. It is clear, for example, that the U.S. authorized the Korean Army's 20th Division to re-take Gwangju – as acknowledged in a 1982 letter to the New York Times by then-Ambassador Gleysteen.
[General Wickham], with my concurrence, permitted transfer of well-trained troops of the twentieth R.O.K.A. Division from martial-law duty in Seoul to Gwangju because law and order had to be restored in a situation that had run amok following the outrageous behavior of the Korean Special Forces, which had never been under General Wickham's command.
However, as Gwangju Uprising editors Scott-Stokes and Lee note, whether the expulsion of government troops left the situation lawless or "amok" is very much open to dispute.
In 2002, anti-American sentiment in South Korea spiked after two U.S. soldiers in an M60 armored vehicle-launched bridge (AVLB) accidentally hit and killed two South Korean teenage girls in the Yangju highway incident.
An expansion of Camp Humphreys later in the decade served as a catalyst for the Daechuri Protests, drawing thousands of South Korean citizens, resulting in occasional violent clashes and arrests. Following a series of large protests against the U.S. and Republic of Korea governments' plan to expand Camp Humphreys and make it the main base for most U.S. troops in South Korea, residents of Daechuri and other small villages near Pyeongtaek agreed to a government settlement to leave their homes in 2006 and allow the base's expansion. Compensation for the land averaged 600 million won (about US$600,000) per resident.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, members of USFK, and other foreign nationals were reported to have no-mask parties at Haeundae Beach in Busan for the Independence Day of 2020, and the Memorial Day of 2021, despite local social distancing restrictions. They engaged in unruly behavior, which included playing loud music, heavy drinking, and the shooting of firecrackers at locals.
Western princesses (prostitutes servicing U.S. soldiers) have resulted in a negative image for South Korean women who have relationships with American men.
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