Bae will formally take command of the ship on Wednesday, the Navy said Tuesday.
Captains are the highest-ranking commanding officers assigned to Navy ships and lead major vessels such as amphibious assault ships, destroyers and large logistics support ships. No female officer had previously commanded a ship at that level.
Bae entered the Republic of Korea Naval Academy in 1999 as a member of its 57th class, the first class to admit female cadets, and was commissioned in 2003.
An experienced operations officer, she has served as commander of Chamsuri patrol boat No. 282, operations officer aboard the corvette ROKS Namwon and commanding officer of the minelayer ROKS Wonsan. She also previously served aboard ROKS Dokdo as a deck officer.
Bae recently served as head of the Maritime Operations Center at the Combined Forces Maritime Component Command during the 2026 Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC), where the South Korean Navy led multinational maritime forces.
“My experience aboard a wide range of vessels, from combat ships to support vessels, has taught me to view situations from multiple perspectives,” Bae said. “Based on that operational experience, I will ensure that ROKS Dokdo can fully carry out combined and joint operations in any contingency.”
She said returning to the ship as its commanding officer was both an honor and a major responsibility.
“I understand the operational characteristics of ROKS Dokdo better than most,” she said. “I will communicate closely with the crew and bring out the ship’s full potential.”
Addressing junior female officers, Bae said the path was not easy but encouraged them to continue serving with pride.
ROKS Dokdo, the Navy’s first large amphibious transport ship, displaces 14,500 tons and measures 199 meters long and 30 meters wide. It can carry more than 300 crew members and up to 700 additional troops, along with helicopters, tanks, amphibious assault vehicles and other military equipment.
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