''Mudeungbyeong'' (literally "rank-less soldier") is a term describing the lowest possible

military rank Military ranks is a system of hierarchy, hierarchical relationships within armed forces, police, Intelligence agency, intelligence agencies, paramilitary groups, and other institutions organized along military organisation , military lines, such ...

in the armed forces of

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...

. It is the combined equivalent of an

army recruit Military recruitment is attracting people to, and selecting them for, military training and employment. Demographics Gender Across the world, a large majority of recruits to state armed forces and Violent non-state actor, non-state armed ...

seaman recruit Seaman recruit is usually the lowest rank used in navies around the world. United States Seaman recruit (SR) is the lowest enlisted rate in the United States Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps just below seaman appre ...

in other militaries of the world. The official name is ''jangjeong'' (장정), which refers to enlistees before they have been assigned a rank. A ''jangjeong'' wears no insignia and the rank is typically only held by those attending initial

basic training Military recruit training, commonly known as basic training or boot camp, refers to the initial instruction of new military personnel. It is a physically and psychologically intensive process, which resocializes its subjects for the unique dema ...

. The term ''hullyeonbyeong'' (훈련병), meaning "trainee," is also sometimes used for those still in boot camp. The North Korean

Korean People's Army The Korean People's Army (KPA; ) encompasses the combined military forces of North Korea and the armed wing of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK). The KPA consists of five branches: the Korean People's Army Ground Force, Ground Force, the Ko ...

does not maintain an equivalent position.

See also