Commissioned on June 1, 1993, Jangbogo made South Korea the world’s 43rd nation to operate submarines and laid the foundation for a three-dimensional naval force spanning surface, subsurface, and air domains.The Republic of Korea Navy held a retireme
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South Korea’s First Submarine Jangbogo Ends 34-Year Mission
ROKS Jangbogo (SS-I), South Korea’s first operational submarine, has officially ended 34 years of service safeguarding the nation’s maritime sovereignty, with retirement scheduled for December 31.
The Republic of Korea Navy held a retirement ceremony on December 29 at the parade ground of the ROK Navy Submarine Command, marking the end of an era in South Korea’s undersea warfare history.
The ceremony was presided over by Vice Adm. Kim Kyung-ryul, Commander of ROK Fleet Operations, and attended by Adm. Kang Dong-gil, Chief of Naval Operations; Brig. Gen. (ret.) Ahn Byeong-gu, the submarine’s first commanding officer; former crew members and their families; and Georg Wilfried Schmidt, German Ambassador to South Korea. Around 300 guests were present.
Moored near the venue were advanced ROK Navy platforms, including the Dosan Ahn Chang-ho-class (SS-III) and Sohn Won-il-class (SS-II) submarines, as well as submarine rescue ships Cheonghaejin and Ganghwado, symbolically honoring Jangbogo’s retirement.
In his remarks, Adm. Kang said, “Today marks a historic moment as South Korea’s first submarine completes its mission after 34 years of dedicated service. Jangbogo protected our future from the depths of the sea, and its legacy will be remembered forever.” He added that successor submarines would continue to defend the nation “from the deepest, most discreet, and most powerful positions.”
Commissioned on June 1, 1993, Jangbogo made South Korea the world’s 43rd nation to operate submarines and laid the foundation for a three-dimensional naval force spanning surface, subsurface, and air domains. In 1997, the submarine demonstrated long-range operational capability by completing a 10,000-mile solo deployment to Hawaii. During the 2004 Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, it successfully conducted simulated attacks against more than 30 ships, including a U.S. aircraft carrier, without being detected.
The submarine also participated in major international drills such as the U.S.–ROK anti-submarine exercise Silent Shark in 2013 and the Pacific Reach submarine escape and rescue exercise in 2016. Over its career, Jangbogo safely sailed approximately 342,000 miles, adhering to the Navy’s safety motto: “A submarine that dives 100 times must surface 100 times.”
After completing frontline operations in 2023, Jangbogo was reassigned in 2024 as a training submarine, supporting crew qualification and readiness until its final voyage in November 2025.
Lt. Cmdr. Lee Je-gwon, the submarine’s final commanding officer, said, “Jangbogo opened the first chapter of South Korea’s submarine history. The route it pioneered beneath the seas will be remembered by all who follow.”
With its retirement, Jangbogo passes the torch to a new generation of advanced Korean submarines, while its battle ensign, nameplate, and certificate of honorable discharge will be preserved at the Submarine Command’s historical museum.
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