1st Special Forces Brigade
Unit of the Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command
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The 1st Special Forces Brigade (Airborne) (Korean: 제1공수특전여단; Hanja: 第一空輸特戰旅團; RR: Je 1 Gongsuteugjeon-yeodan), also known as Eagle (독수리), is an Airborne Special Forces unit of the Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command.
| 1st Special Forces Brigade (Airborne) | |
|---|---|
| |
| Active | 1 April 1958 – present |
| Country |  South Korea |
| Type | Airborne Special Forces |
| Size | Brigade |
| Part of | Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Gimpo International Airport Gangseo District, Seoul |
| Nickname | Docksuri (Eagle) |
| Engagements | May 16 coup Korean Special Forces Break-in Scandal Vietnam War Operation Paul Bunyan Coup d'état of December Twelfth 2024 South Korean martial law crisis |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Chun Doo Hwan Park Hee Do |
History
On 1 April 1958, 1st Combat Group was founded and most members were from the 8240th Army Unit.[1][2]
On 1 October 1958, reorganized as the 1st Special Forces Group.[citation needed]
On 15 September 1972, reorganized into as the 1st Special Forces Brigade.[citation needed]
Vietnam War
1,172 of 1st Special Forces Group participated in the Vietnam War.[3]
They were attached to Capital Mechanized Infantry Division and 9th Infantry Division.[citation needed]
They conducted the special operations including long-range reconnaissance patrol, surprise attacks by hit-and-run tactics and so on.[4]
Operation Paul Bunyan
64 of 1st Special Forces Brigade participated in the Operation Paul Bunyan in 1976.[5][6]
Criticism
The 1st Special Forces Brigade has been the most habitually/consistently used/involved unit in every single major military action against the ROK civilian government (May 16 coup (1961), Coup d'état of December Twelfth (1979),[7] and 2024 South Korean martial law).[8][9]
On 21 May 1964, some of its members broke into a courtroom and the house of a judge to demand an arrest warrant.[10]