Joo Eun-sik, Director of the Korea Institute for Strategic Studies 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Korea Navy, a significant milestone. While it is often overlooked that the Navy was the first branch of our military to be formally established, this was no mere coincidence. Admiral Sohn Won-il, revered as the father of the Navy, possessed the foresight, immediately after liberation in 1945, that "the lifeline of a nation lies in the sea." The Korean Peninsula, surrounded by the sea on three sides, is a maritime nation and a strategically vital hub where continental and maritime powers intersect. Admiral Sohn keenly understood that even with the limited conditions of a nascent nation at the time, establishing the Navy first was essential to guarantee independence and survival.

That insight remains valid today. In the face of rapidly changing international dynamics, failing to protect maritime strategic supply lines inevitably shakes both the economy and security. This year's Fleet Review for the 80th anniversary of the Navy's founding at the Naval Operations Command in Busan served precisely to remind the public of this lesson. Held over three days from Thursday to Saturday, this event was not merely a maritime parade but a strategic occasion to declare the future direction of naval power domestically and internationally. I attended for the first time upon invitation from the Fleet Review planning group of the Naval Headquarters.

It is no exaggeration to say that the Fleet Review is the Navy's largest-scale event. With the ROKS 7,600-ton class destroyer (Ilchulbong class) as the flagship and the ROKS Jeongjo the Great as the command ship, the Navy showcased its independently developed and operated Aegis destroyers, submarines, landing ships, and the unmanned-manned integrated combat system. This was more than a mere display of military might; it was a national declaration: "We protect our seas." Although a Fleet Review requires significant funding and extensive preparation, it effectively persuades the public of the importance of maritime defense and builds confidence in national defense capabilities.

Looking back at history, the display of naval power was not merely an expression of pride but an integral part of a nation's survival strategy. Following the Russo-Japanese War, the Japanese Navy attempted to flaunt its naval might with Admiral Togo Heihachiro's flagship, the 'Mikasa.' However, the ship sank in an ammunition explosion accident the day before the Fleet Review, preventing its participation. In contrast, our Navy, capitalizing on the historical significance of its 80th anniversary, successfully held the Fleet Review, demonstrating its growth into a maritime power.

A particularly noteworthy aspect of this year's Fleet Review was the unveiling of the future maritime combat concept. Moving beyond the conventional focus on manned warships, the Navy presented an integrated complex warfare model incorporating advanced systems such as unmanned surface vessels, unmanned underwater vehicles, and autonomous maritime drones. This offers a solution to the contemporary challenges of declining birth rates and advancements in cutting-edge technology. While maintaining a traditional blue-water navy model, integrating artificial intelligence, autonomous navigation, and remote strike capabilities is crucial to securing dominance in future maritime warfare.

Furthermore, the emphasis on securing strategic supply lines is also significant. Korea relies on maritime transport routes for over 99% of its energy, raw materials, and food. The global sea lines of communication (SLOCs) traversing the South China Sea, the Strait of Malacca, and the Indian Ocean are the lifeline of the Korean economy. The intensifying strategic competition between the U.S. and China and China's attempts to expand its maritime influence and encroach upon the Western Pacific pose a direct threat to us. This Fleet Review serves as a reminder that the Navy must expand its operational capabilities beyond coastal defense to include blue-water operations and participation in combined operations.

The political message of the event also warrants consideration. Defense Minister Ahn Kyu-baek directly presiding over the Fleet Review before Armed Forces Day (October 1st) is interpreted as an intention to highlight the strengthening of naval power as a central pillar of defense policy. Traditionally, Armed Forces Day has been an Army-centric event. However, the nature of modern warfare has already evolved multidimensionally, and the geopolitics surrounding the Korean Peninsula have expanded to include maritime, aerial, and space domains. The Minister's effective redefinition of a "Navy Day" and his emphasis on balanced joint force construction are timely.

Future Direction of Naval Development

△ Securing Blue-Water Operational Capability

Our Navy must expand its operational capabilities beyond coastal defense to blue-water operations. To this end, it is necessary to secure more light aircraft carriers of 30,000 tons or larger, additional Aegis destroyers, advance submarine capabilities, and establish a superior reconnaissance and strike system.

△ Unmanned and AI Integrated Maritime Force

To address the era of the demographic cliff, unmanned surface vessels, unmanned underwater vehicles, maritime drones, and AI-based tactical command systems are essential. As the direction was presented at this Fleet Review, the pace of research, development, and operational deployment must be accelerated.

△ Defense of Maritime Supply Chains and Sea Lanes

Protecting maritime transport routes is directly linked to national survival. We must secure long-range operational capabilities and combined operational capacity to protect the strategic supply chain extending from the Indian Ocean to the Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea.

△ Strengthening Combined and Alliance Maritime Security Networks

It is necessary to counter China's expanding maritime hegemony by expanding security cooperation with the U.S., Japan, and Australia, and maritime security partnerships with India and Southeast Asia. The ROK Navy should aim to serve as a regional maritime security hub.

△ Enhancing Public Maritime Awareness

Naval power cannot be sustained without public support. This Fleet Review should be an opportunity to enhance maritime education, naval history research, and support for the maritime industry, enabling the public to experience the strategic value of the sea.

The 80th anniversary Fleet Review was not a ceremony commemorating the past but a strategic declaration designing the future. Just as Admiral Sohn Won-il believed, the Republic of Korea today cannot guarantee its survival without controlling the sea. The advanced maritime forces and the unmanned-manned integrated system showcased at the Fleet Review embody this sense of crisis and future vision. It is time for national investment and public consensus to ensure that this event becomes a milestone for the ROK Navy to truly emerge as a maritime powerhouse, rather than just a one-time celebration.

Fleet Reviews are extremely costly and thus beyond the means of most nations. Our military holds one approximately every ten years; the first was in 1949. Originally scheduled for 2026, anniversaries like the 80th can lead to the event being held slightly earlier or later. This year marks the sixth such event, and observing a Fleet Review is the best way to witness the Navy's prowess.