Editing Republic of Korea Armed Forces (section)

== Command structure ==
[[File:UNC - CFC - USFK photo 170928-A-CD114-0066 69th ROK Armed Forces Day.jpg|thumb|President [[Moon Jae-in]] with the Minister of National Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Commander of [[United States Forces Korea|USFK]] in 2017]]

Command over the ROK Armed Forces is established in the Constitution. The [[President of South Korea|President]] is the Commander-in-Chief Forces ''ex officio''. The military authority runs from the President to the [[Ministry of National Defense (South Korea)|Minister of National Defense]], who is often to be (but not legally bound to be) a retired [[four-star rank|four-star]] general. The President and Minister of National Defense are in charge of the entire military establishment, maintaining [[civilian control of the military]]. The Minister of National Defense, by order of the President, takes charge of military affairs, and supervises the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the chief of staff of each service of the Armed Forces.

To coordinate military strategy with political affairs, the President has a [[National Security Council (South Korea)|National Security Council]] headed by the National Security Advisor.

=== Joint Chiefs of Staff ===
{{main|Joint Chiefs of Staff (Republic of Korea)}}

The Joint Chiefs of Staff consists of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the military service chiefs from the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Unlike the U.S. counterpart, operational command of combat units falls within the purview of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who reports to the Minister of National Defense.

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a four-star general or admiral, is the senior officer of the Armed Forces. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff assists the Minister of National Defense with regard to operational command authority, and supervises the combat units of each service of the Armed Forces, by order of the Minister of National Defense. The chain of operational control runs straight from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the commandants of the Army, Navy, and Air Force operational commands. The respective chiefs of staff of each service branch (Army, Navy, and Air Force) has administrative control over his or her own service.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://elaw.klri.re.kr/kor_service/lawView.do?hseq=26880&lang=ENG|title=Act on the Organization of National Armed Forces|website=KOREA LEGISLATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE|access-date=2019-03-15}}</ref>