[Military Story] The Hidden Secret Behind Missile Names

In Early Development, Cover Project Names Were Used for Security
Since the 1990s, Naming Has Considered Weapon Characteristics

The names of domestic missiles vary. Examples include Baekgom, Hyeonmu, and Cheongung. These names are often given by the requesting military units or the developing agency, the Agency for Defense Development (ADD). Sometimes, the project name initially used during development at ADD is retained. Additionally, the President, as the highest military commander, may directly name them, or the names may be selected through public contests, among other methods.

On the 2nd, at the 'Korea International Defense Industry Exhibition' held at Gyeryongdae, Chungnam, LIG Nex1's Shingung and Hyeongung, along with anti-aircraft missiles, were displayed. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

For security reasons, ADD used code project names as nicknames for weapon systems during the 1970s and 1980s. However, since the 1990s, symbolic names reflecting the characteristics of the weapons have been used rather than security-related nicknames.

Baekgom Missile, Inspired by Snow-Covered Researchers

The name of the first domestically developed surface-to-surface missile in the 1970s was ‘Baekgom’ (White Bear). Researchers participating in the development were working intensively on flight tests using a small container as a temporary office in Anheung, often traveling on foot due to lack of proper transportation. One snowy day, the researchers walking covered in white snow looked just like polar bears, which inspired the missile’s name, Baekgom.

The surface-to-surface guided weapon ‘Hyeonmu’ that appeared in the 1980s took its name from Hyeonmu (玄武), the guardian deity protecting the north. Hyeonmu is a mythical creature combining a turtle and a snake. The Republic of Korea Army has operated Hyeonmu as a major deterrent for over 20 years, and it continues to develop as a weapon system that reliably guards the northern border of the country, living up to its name.

Shingung, Named Through a Contest Among ADD Employees

The portable surface-to-air guided weapon ‘Shingung (新弓)’ had no name until early 1999. It was sometimes called portable surface-to-air guided weapon, KPSAM, or ‘Hyusam,’ a combination of the English abbreviations for portable and surface-to-air guided weapon. However, many found these names awkward and inconvenient. Later, a naming contest was held among all ADD employees, and ‘Shingung (新弓)’ was selected. It means ‘a new bow with the latest technology applied.’ During testing and evaluation, it was sometimes called ‘Shingung (神弓)’ replacing the first character with ‘god’ (神), meaning it hits targets like a spirit. In the military units operating it, it is also called ‘Shingung (信弓)’ replacing the first character with ‘trust’ (信), meaning a reliable weapon system.

Yonhap News

The medium-range surface-to-air guided weapon ‘Cheongung (天弓)’ was named directly by the requesting Air Force. Cheongung was developed to replace the American-made ‘Hawk (HAWK)’ and was initially called Cheolmae II. The Hawk missile was called Cheolmae by the Korean Air Force, and since this weapon was developed to replace it, it was naturally called Cheolmae II. Later, the Air Force proposed renaming it Cheongung to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force through a naming revision process. Cheongung means ‘weapon bestowed by the heavens,’ symbolizing ‘flying like a bow to defend the national airspace.’

Cheondung, Chosen by the Army for Its Thunderous Gunfire

The name of the K9 self-propelled howitzer’s shell is ‘Cheondung’ (Thunder). It was named by the requesting Army because the gunfire sounds as loud as thunder when the shell is fired. The K9 self-propelled howitzer has been exported using this name: in India, it is called Vajra (Hindi for ‘thunder’), and in Turkey, it is called Firtina (Turkish for ‘storm’).

Weapon systems protecting territorial waters include ship-to-ship missiles and torpedoes. The first domestically developed cruise ship-to-ship guided weapon is ‘Haeseong (海星),’ meaning ‘star of the sea.’ Torpedoes developed sequentially in Korea are called the Shark series. The heavyweight torpedo launched from submarines is ‘Baeksang-eo’ (White Shark), the lightweight torpedo launched from destroyers and helicopters is ‘Cheongsang-eo’ (Blue Shark), and the anti-submarine torpedo carried by rockets to strike enemy submarines at sea is ‘Hongsang-eo’ (Red Shark). When torpedoes were first developed domestically in 1974, the research institute named them after sharks. The name was inspired by sharks, known as killers of the sea, silently approaching and delivering fatal attacks to enemy submarines or warships.

KT-1 Ungbi, Personally Bestowed by Former President Kim Young-sam

In the aviation field, there is the KT-1, the first domestically independently developed basic trainer aircraft. The weapon system’s name is ‘Ungbi (雄飛),’ personally bestowed by the late President Kim Young-sam. It means to act vigorously and courageously. Although a public contest was initially planned to name it ‘Yeomyeong’ (Dawn), the achievement of entering the aircraft development nation was significant, so in November 1995, then-President Kim Young-sam personally wrote the calligraphy for ‘Ungbi.’