Donghae-class corvette

Since 1983, a total of 4 Donghae-class corvettes commissioned in the Republic of Korea Navy. The decommission of the class started in 2009, and is being replaced with series of FFX program. As of 2021, only 1 remains in service with the Colombian Navy. Prior to the Donghae-class, the Republic of Korea Navy operated ex-US warships of similar role and size built during the World War II, which the ships were in imminent retirement condition in 1980. Meanwhile, the lead ship of Ulsan-class frigate was under construction; the new frigate project, being the priority of the ROKN, took up most of the budget. Therefore, the ROKN planned a small cost-efficient yet heavily armed patrol vessel that can support Ulsan-class by providing numeric advantage as low-end platform. Since the ROKN was heavily involved in anti-espionage missions and patrolling the maritime border, ship stability became the most important factor in designing the ship. From the ships operated by the ROKN, the Noryang-class PCEC (Patrol Craft Escort & Combatant) (ex-PCE-842-class) had the best size for the mission, and the Sinseong-class PCE (Patrol Craft Escort) (ex-Auk-class MSF), which had U-shape hull, showed the best ship stability at the patrol speed (5-8 knots).