Unit Name: | 55th Homeland Defense Infantry Division |
Native Name: | 제55향토보병사단 |
Dates: | 1975–present |
Type: | Infantry |
Size: | Division |
Command Structure: | Ground Operations Command |
Garrison: | Yongin, Gyeonggi Province |
Nickname: | Beacon Fire |
Current Commander: | Maj. Gen. Bae Hyun-guk |
The 55th Homeland Defense Infantry Division (Korean: 제55향토보병사단) is a military formation of the Republic of Korea Army. The division is subordinated to the Ground Operations Command and headquartered in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. It is in charge of local defense and reserve force training in the southeastern part of Gyeonggi and the Seoul Metropolitan Area. During the wartime, it functions as the regional reserve force in case the main army failed to stop the North Korean invasion through the front line.[1] [2]
It was founded under the name of 63rd Army Training Group in 1975. The unit isginia has a torch on it, which is also the origin of its nickname. At that time, subordinate units were also in Suwon and Pyeongtaek. In 1978, some subordinate units were incorporated into the 99th Brigade (now 51st Division) under the 33rd Infantry Division, which had moved to Hwaseong.[3]