Compare armed forces

Alliance builder

Military power of South Korea & Iran

South Korea flag svg Iran flag svg

South Korea vs Iran

Show map
South Korea Iran

South Korea is a country located in Eastern Asia with an area of 100,210 km2 (land boundries: 237 km and costline 2,413 km). The capital of South Korea is Seoul. The number of inhabitants is 51,709,098.

US-South Korea Mutual Defense Treaty is a cornerstone of South Korea’s security. The Treaty gave the US permission to station land, air, and sea forces in the territory of South Korea. The USA maintained approximately 28,000 military personnel in the country. South Korea has been engaged with NATO through dialogue and security cooperation since 2005 and is considered by NATO to be a global partner. The South Korean military is equipped with a mix of domestically-produced and imported weapons systems. The top foreign weapons supplier is the United States and some domestically-produced systems are built under US license.

More about South Korea military

Iran is a country located in Middle East with an area of 1,648,195 km2 (land boundries: 5,894 km and costline 2,440 km - note: Iran also borders the Caspian Sea (740 km)). The capital of Iran is Tehran. The number of inhabitants is 83,183,741.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was formed in May 1979. The IRGC was a highly institutionalized and parallel military force to Iran’s regular armed forces. The Iranian military's inventory includes a mix of domestically-produced and mostly older foreign equipment largely of Chinese, Russian, Soviet, and US origin. Iran has a defense industry with the capacity to develop, produce, support, and sustain air, land, missile, and naval weapons programs.

More about Iran military

If you want to check the comparison in terms of economic ratios check out CompareEconomy.com

Military expenditures

small flag KR
small flag IR

Military budget

+
44 billion $ 5%
1% 10 billion $

Percent of GDP

+
2.5 % 16%
13% 2.1 %

Manpower

small flag KR
small flag IR

Active personnel

+
555,000 27%
29% 587,000

Reserve personnel

+
2,750,000 92%
7% 200,000

Available for military

+
13,185,794 3%
6% 23,619,215

Land Forces

small flag KR
small flag IR
mlrs svg

Tanks

+
2,201 18%
18% 2,198
mlrs svg

Armoured fighting vehicles

+
4,456 12%
7% 2,875
mlrs svg

Total artillery

+
8,096 44%
25% 4,582
mlrs svg

Self-propelled artillery

+
3,270 51%
12% 742
mlrs svg

Rocket artillery

+
426 10%
40% 1,752

Air Forces

small flag KR
small flag IR
mlrs svg

Total aircraft

+
1,524 12%
8% 1,052
mlrs svg

Fighter

+
61 7%
15% 127
mlrs svg

Multirole

+
325 13%
3% 76
mlrs svg

Attack

+
0 0%
3% 21
mlrs svg

Helicopters

+
837 17%
7% 339
mlrs svg

UCAV (combat drone)

+
0 0%
74% 328

Navy

small flag KR
small flag IR
mlrs svg

Total naval

+
152 20%
37% 279
mlrs svg

Aircraft carriers

+
2 10%
0% 0
mlrs svg

Destroyers

+
13 13%
0% 0
mlrs svg

Frigates

+
17 36%
15% 7
mlrs svg

Corvettes

+
3 4%
4% 3
mlrs svg

Submarines

+
22 22%
26% 25

Nuclear weapons

South Korea

Does not have nuclear weapons.

Iran

Does not have nuclear weapons.

Military service

South Korea

20-30 years of age for compulsory military service, with middle school education required; minimum conscript service obligation - 21 months (Army, Marines), 23 months (Navy), 24 months (Air Force); 18-26 years of age for voluntary military service; women, in service since 1950, admitted to 7 service branches, including infantry, but excluded from artillery, armor, anti-air, and chaplaincy corps; HIV-positive individuals are exempt from military service.

Iran

18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age for volunteers; 17 years of age for Law Enforcement Forces; 15 years of age for Basij Forces (Popular Mobilization Army); conscript military service obligation is 18 months; women exempt from military service.