South Korea Officially Retires Legendary F-4 Fighter Jet Phantom

South Korea's F4 Phantom fighter jet. (Wikimedia Commons/Republic of Korea Armed Forces)

JAKARTA - The fleet of legendary F4-Phantom fighter jets of the Air Force of the Republic of Korea officially retired on Friday, after 55 years in charge of guarding South Korea's skies, marking the end of an era in the country's military history.

Two F-4E jets aired for their final flight on the 10th Fighter Wing in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, the fleet's main base, in a full-time ceremony attended by National Defense Minister Shin Won-sik.

The flight was attended by F-16 fighter jets, KF-16, FA-50, RF-16, F-15K, and F-35A which ended the magnificent event, marking the handover of missions to defend the country's sky to new generation aircraft.

Defense Minister Shin reflected on the glorious history of the Phantom, describing the last 55 years as proof of South Korea's victory, stating that with the introduction of Phantom, the country quickly gained air advantage over North Korea.

"The noble spirit of Phantom, dedicated to protecting South Korean airspace, will always be with us," said Defense Minister Shin, launching The Korea Times June 7.

The pension ceremony also respects the pilots and patriots who died, remembering those who have sacrificed for the sake of the country.

The series of separations started last month, when four F-4 Phantom fighter jets took off from their base in Suwon, just south of Seoul. Flying with reporters, the planes searched a number of historic places that witnessed South Korea's air power, both on the west coast and the east coast.

The first US-made fighter jets arrived in South Korea in 1969, playing an important role in strengthening the country's defense capabilities against threats posed by North Korea's Soviet-made fighter jets.

About 220 Phantoms have been operated by the Air Force, culminating in an honorable career spanning various missions ranging from reconnaissance to interception, but only about 10 jets have been operating recently.

Ginseng Country itself is currently working to deploy KF-21, a domestically developed supersonic fighter aircraft, in 2026 to replace the old F-4 and F-5 jet fleets.