1st Special Forces Brigade (South Korea)

The 1st Special Forces Brigade (Airborne), also known as Eagle (독수리), is an Airborne Special Forces unit of the Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command.

History
On 1 April 1958, 1st Combat Group was founded and most members were from the 8240th Army Unit.

On 1 October 1958, reorganized as the 1st Special Forces Group.

On 15 September 1972, reorganized into as the 1st Special Forces Brigade.

Vietnam War
1,172 of 1st Special Forces Group participated in the Vietnam War.

They were attached to Capital Mechanized Infantry Division and 9th Infantry Division.

They conducted the special operations including long-range reconnaissance patrol, surprise attacks by hit-and-run tactics and so on.

Operation Paul Bunyan
64 of 1st Special Forces Brigade participated in the Operation Paul Bunyan in 1976.

Criticism
1st Special Forces Brigade was involved in two military coup d'états - May 16 coup (1961) and Coup d'état of December Twelfth (1979).

On 21 May 1964, some of its members Korean Special Forces Break-in Scandal to demand an arrest warrant.

Notable former members

 * Moon Jae-in