무형전투력이 전투의 승패에 미친 영향 연구

Abstract

Victory or defeat in war and battle depends not only on material superiority but also on the interplay of tangible and intangible combat power. While tangible combat power—such as weapons, manpower, and logistics—forms the physical foundation of military strength, it alone cannot guarantee success. This study argues that even when tangible combat power is inferior, dominance in intangible combat power can determine victory. The analysis centers on the Battle of Yongmunsan during the Korean War as a representative case. In this research, intangible combat power is defined as the combined will and military support of commanders and combatants. The study proposes an analytical framework that explains the probability of victory or defeat based on different combinations of these three variables. Findings show that despite numerical inferiority to the Chinese forces in tangible combat power, South Korean forces achieved victory due to superior intangible combat power, particularly the leadership will and morale of commanders and soldiers. Theoretical implications of this study are twofold: first, it introduces a scientific approach by operationalizing intangible combat power through the interaction of will and support among military actors; second, it demonstrates that intangible combat power can be maximized through human-centered synergy, where leadership, morale, and trust reinforce one another. Policy implications include: (1) providing an integrative framework that connects previous studies on intangible combat power conducted by institutions such as the Leadership Center, the National Defense Mental Forces Institute, and the Korea Defense Research Institute; and (2) emphasizing the need to strengthen intangible combat power as a strategic foundation for human resource empowerment, essential to enhancing overall combat effectiveness.