• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.1259-1270
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• 2024

The Korean Independence Army (KIA) played a crucial role in the struggle for independence from imperial Japan. Its rank insignia were essential for signifying its status as a regular military force. While previous studies have examined their regulation, the insignia served various purposes, and some have been neglected. This study conducts a comprehensive analysis of the KIA's rank insignia to clarify their forms and uses, drawing on relevant regulations, literary sources, photographs, and artifacts. The insignia used by the KIA, derived from the Army of the Chinese Nationalist Government, were identified and examined. The study found that high-ranking officers and those from the KIA's 3^rd branch wore collar insignia, and identification patches were more commonly used. The KIA established the Army Insignia Protocol independently, but discrepancies occurred between the shoulder patches designed and those worn, indicating that they were likely used by high-ranking officers during ceremonies. This study found that the 3^rd company of the KIA's 1^st branch wore unique, self-made rank insignia that differed from the others. The study provides a framework for dating KIA photographs and verifying the authenticity of military artifacts, enabling more accurate portrayals of the KIA in the media.