The Armed Forces of the Republic of Korea or the national army of the Republic of Korea (yen) are the armed forces of South Korea. The Armed Forces of the Republic of Korea is one of the largest military forces in the world, with a manpower of 3٫305 0 000 in 2020 ( 555 000 active and 2 750 000 Reserve). South Korea has the tenth largest military budget among countries in the world, and its armed forces are ranked as the sixth most powerful military in the world in 2020.the Armed Forces of the Republic of Korea were established in 1948 after the establishment of the South Korean government after Korea gained independence from the Empire of Japan. South Korea's military forces are responsible for maintaining the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as participating in peacekeeping operations, humanitarian actions, and disaster relief in emergencies around the world.