As South Korea's economy grew, the ROK Navy was able to locally build larger and better equipped fleets to deter aggression, to protect the sea lines of communication, and to support the nation's foreign policy.

"[13] In the 9th century, Commissioner Jang Bogo of Unified Silla established a maritime base called Cheonghaejin on an island to foster trading with China and Japan, and to eradicate pirates.

In 1380, naval forces of the Goryeo dynasty defeated 500 invading Japanese pirate vessels by deploying shipboard guns, devised by Ch'oe Mu-sŏn.

In the early years of the Joseon dynasty, the naval force reached its peak of 50,000 personnel, in order to combat the ongoing piracy issue.

However, the Royal Naval Academy was closed in November 1894, and the Joseon navy was brought to an end in 1895 due to the First Sino-Japanese War and the Gabo Reform.

[25] On July 30, 1960, ROKS Gangwon (DE 72), formerly USS Sutton (DE-771), sank the North Korean navy patrol craft PBS 371 off the coast of Geojin.

In the 1970s, through the Park Chung Hee Administration's "Yulgok Operation", a secret effort to strengthen domestic arms production,[28] the ROK Navy began to establish a fleet of locally built warships.

In October 1998, the ROK Navy hosted its first international fleet review in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Republic of Korea and its armed forces off of the coast of Busan and Jinhae.

In 2006, the ROK Navy launched the lead ship (SS 072), which was named after the first Chief of Naval Operations, of the 1,800-ton Sohn Wonyil-class submarine equipped with an Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) system.

In May 2007, the ROK Navy launched the lead ship (DDG 991) of the 11,000-ton Sejong the Great-class destroyers, built around the American-made AEGIS combat system and the SPY-1D(v) multi-function phased array radar.

[34] The ROK Navy hosted its second international fleet review off coast of Busan in October 2008 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the South Korean government.

On March 26, 2010, ROKS Cheonan (PCC 772), a Pohang-class corvette was sunk by a North Korean torpedo, resulting in the deaths of 46 sailors near Baengnyeong Island, in the vicinity of the Northern Limit Line.

On January 21, 2011, naval commandos of the task group carried out an operation, and succeeded in rescuing the crew of the hijacked MV Samho Jewelry.

As part of the vision, Admiral Sim Seung-seob, the Chief of Naval Operations proposed to build an ICT-based, system-driven "Smart Navy".

In 2005 and 2018 the ROK Navy launched two 18,800-ton Dokdo-class amphibious ships (LPH), equipped with a full-length flight deck and facilities for operating helicopters.

The CNO is an administrative position based in the Gyeryongdae complex, and exercises supervision of Navy organizations as the designee of the Minister of National Defense.

Operational command of combat units falls within the purview of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who reports to the Minister of National Defense.

As a humanitarian operation, ROKS Munmu the Great (DDH 976) of the task group was dispatched to evacuate South Koreans and foreign nationals from war-torn Libya in 2014.

Since March 2009, the ROK Navy has deployed the Escort Task Group (Cheonghae) in response to piracy in shipping lanes off the coast of Somalia.

[72] In October 1998, the ROK Navy hosted its first international fleet review in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Republic of Korea and its armed forces off coast of Busan and Jinhae.

[73] The ROK Navy hosted its second international fleet review off coast of Busan in October 2008 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the South Korean government.

[107] South Korea has long sought the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines, and the 2021 AUKUS announcement to supply them to Australia has renewed this desire.

In August 2020, the Ministry of National Defense formally announced its intent to begin construction of a 30,000-ton light aircraft carrier, and it was authorized as the CVX program in February 2021.

[115] Through the PKX program, the ROK Navy plans to build a fleet of a next generation patrol craft with Cooperative Engagement Capability and enhanced weaponry such as 76 mm guns and the KSSM anti-ship missiles.

On 12 July 2005, the lead ship (LPH 6111) of the 14,500-ton Dokdo-class amphibious transport dock was launched at the shipyard of Hanjin Heavy Industries in Busan.

[117] Daewoo S&ME (DSME) will build the ship, and UK-based underwater systems developer JFD will deliver a deep-submergence rescue vehicle (DSRV) for the ROK Navy in 2021.

[120] Through the phase II, eight more P-3CK maritime patrol aircraft, modified from retired USN P-3B had been delivered to the ROK Navy by 2010 after undergoing extensive refurbishment and modernization.

While possible candidates include the C-295 MPA, P-8 Poseidon and the SC-130J Sea Hercules,[124] DAPA was considering a plan to procure 12 to 20 ex-USN S-3 Vikings for the ROKN.

[130][131] On 15 January 2013, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration announced the selection of the AW159 Wildcat to fulfill a requirement of the ROK Navy for a maritime helicopter, winning out against the MH-60R Seahawk.

Examples of changes (M-R → RR): Chinhae → Jinhae; Inchon → Incheon; Kangnung → Gangneung; Kimpo → Gimpo; Pusan → Busan; Taegu → Daegu.