Special Forces In South Korea: Steel Troops Edition
The most elite military units in South Korea: Why is everyone talking about them?
Descendants of the Sun was one of the first Korean drama series to depict life in a Special Forces unit.
Since then, more dramas with the same theme have followed.
Furthermore, a show called Steel Troops, where different Special Forces units challenge each other to determine which unit is the strongest, has recently gained popularity.
In this article, we will take a look at the Special Forces in South Korea. What do the units specialize in, and what kind of training do they have to go through?
To learn more about the military service in South Korea, click here!
South Korea's Special Forces Gaining Recognition
The 2016 drama series Descendants of the Sun was a huge hit both in Korea and internationally.
Mixing the themes of romance and military life was a new concept. This coupled with strong performances by the leads saw it gain plenty of attention and popularity.
The fact that the main character was in a Special Forces unit made the story even more intriguing.
Ever since the release of the drama, the general interest for the Special Forces has increased in the country,
In 2020, the show Fake Men (가짜사나이) exploded in popularity on streaming sites.
The program shows YouTube celebrities being put through intense training by Special Forces instructors.
The show gives a glimpse into the harsh life of Special Forces, and its popularity has even spawned new products such as military lunch boxes!
Recently, the show Steel Troops (강철부대) has also enjoyed high viewing rankings.
In the show, reservists from Special Forces compete against each other to determine which unit is the strongest in South Korea.
For many viewers, the highlight of the program is the well-trained and good-looking reservists.
The success of shows like Fake Men and Steel Troops tells us that the interest in Special Forces remains very high.
Special Warfare Command
육군 특수전사령부
Also known as the Black Berets, the Special Warfare Command is one of the most iconic Special Forces under the Republic of Korea Army.
The current president Moon Jae-in is said to have served in this command.
The command train to approaching their enemies from ground, sea, or air, specializing in assassinations, hostage rescue and other gerilla warfare.
Some are also trained to conduct worldwide peace-keeping operations.
Their nickname Black Berets comes from their use of black headgear.
They also have two badass mottos: "Make Impossible Possible" and "Approach like a Ghost, Strike like Thunder, Vanish like Smoke"!
707th Special Mission Group
육군 제707 특수임무단
The 707th Special Mission Group is made up of handpicked members from the Special Warfare Command introduced above.
The group is an elite counter-terrorism unit which can be assigned special tasks in case of war.
The existence of the 707th Special Mission Group was kept as a state secret in the 80s, and to this day there are many mysteries surrounding the unit.
This is also the unit which the main character of Descendants of the Sun, Yoo Si-jin, is said to be a member of.
Apparently, Alpha Team, which was dispatched to Uruk in the drama, is said to be modelled after an actual unit which conducted operations in the United Arab Emirates!
Special Duty Team (SDT)
육군 군사경찰 특수임무대
The Republic of Korea Army Military Police Special Duty Team (SDT) is a Special Forces unit with similar duties as the National Police Agency's Special Operations Unit (SOU).
As the elite unit of the military police, they specialize in counter-terrorist operations.
Their motto "대한민국을 경호한다!" can be translated as "Protecting the Republic of Korea!".
UDT/SEAL
해군 특수전전단
Modelled after the US Navy SEAL, the UDT/SEAL is the most well known branch of the Korea Navy Special Warfare Flotilla.
They specialize in attacks from sea, ground, and air, and can be tasked with assassination and counter-terrorist operations.
The unit holds a great track record, including a successful operation against Somali pirates in 2011.
They are known to endure especially fierce training.
The artist Yook Jun-seo, who shot to fame after his appearance in Steel Troops, is a reservist of UDT.
Just seeing his refined looks, it's hard to tell the harsh and intense training he underwent in the Special Forces!
Ship Salvage Unit (SSU)
해군 해난구조전대
The Ship Salvage Unit is an elite navy unit which specialize in ship salvaging and search and rescue operations at sea.
In order to facilitate various salvage operations, they also train deep sea divers.
They are the first unit to be sent out whenever there is a major accident at sea.
Needless to say, they played a big part of the rescue operation during the Sewol ferry disaster.
Underwater Demolition Unit (UDU)
해군 첩보부대 해상정찰대
This Special Forces unit gained fame as the unit that the main character (played by Won Bin) in the 2010 film The Man from Nowhere used to belong to.
UDU specializes in stealth operations such as abductions, assassinations, detonations, surprise attacks and rescue missions.
In the past, their operations even included espionage missions to North Korea, although recent reconciliation efforts have meant that such activities have decreased.
However, many of their activities remain state secrets, and the identities of UDU agents are kept secret. Few people know the exact details of their operations.
Marine Corps Special Squad (SRU)
해군 해병대 특수수색대
SRU is a unit that is deployed in case of major terror threats at sea.
The fact that only about 1% of the Marines are accepted to these Special Forces was behind the title of the 2010 film 대한민국1% (English title: Miss Staff Sergeant – literal title: Republic of Korea 1%).
Their motto is "Stealth, Swiftness, Precision" ("은밀, 신속, 정확").
After being handpicked from other marine units, the Marines have to undergo nine weeks of training before being accepted as agents.
Combat Control Team (CCT)
공군 공정통제사
There is said to be no more than 20 airmen in the Korean Air Force Combat Control Team.
Their mission is to keep track of weather conditions and winds in order to enable successful operations.
They are tasked not only with air traffic control, but their specialized skills are also required for marine operations, installation of explosives, and air supply.
In 2021, the first female airman qualified for the Combat Control Team.
Known for their red berets, the unit is sometimes referred to as the "Red Berets".
Their motto "First There, Last Out" refers to them being the first unit to be sent into operations areas, while also being the last to leave.
While doing research for this article, we were surprised by the sheer amount of Special Forces units in South Korea.
However, considering that the country is still technically at war, knowing that there are men and women working in the shade to secure safety of the Korean people is also reassuring.
