They entered service in 1974; the last one was decommissioned in 2001.

[1] These were ships used by the US Navy during World War II and were modernized in electronics and weaponry during FRAM I.

Throughout the 1970s they constituted the backbone of the Republic of Korea Navy as a replacement for Chungmu class destroyers.

They were all leased till 1977 then bought by the navy.

[2] The Republic of Korea Navy acquired five destroyers of the Gearing class for the Republic of Korea Navy from the USA in 1974 as part of the American Military Assistance Program.