South Korean involvement in the Vietnam War | |
---|---|
Part of the Vietnam War | |
Type | War |
Location | |
Objective | To support South Vietnam against Communist attacks |
Date | 11 September 1964 – 23 March 1973 |
Executed by | Approximately 320,000 military personnel, with an average of 48,000 per year. |
Casualties | 5,099 killed 10,962 injured |
The South Korean government, under the regime of Park Chung Hee, took an active role in the Vietnam War. South Korea's decision to join resulted from various underlying causes, including the development of US-South Korea relations, political exigencies, and the promise of economic aid from the United States.[1] Under the wartime alliance, the South Korean economy flourished, receiving tens of billions of dollars in grants, loans, subsidies, technology transfers, and preferential economic treatment.[2] From September 1964 to March 1973, South Korea sent some 350,000 troops to South Vietnam. The South Korean Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force all participated as an ally of the United States. The number of troops from South Korea was much greater than those from Australia and New Zealand, and second only to the U.S. military force for foreign troops located in South Vietnam. The military commander was Lieutenant General Chae Myung-shin of the South Korean army. Participation of Korean forces in the war included both non-combatant and combatant roles.