A Polish Air Force MiG-29 Fulcrum takes off from RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, UK at a steep angle. The MiG-29 is North Korea’s best fighter jet, but is antiquated by modern standards. (Shutterstock/Jasper Dalgliesh)

KF-21 Boramae vs. MiG-29 Fulcrum: Which Is the Greatest Korean Fighter Jet?

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The ages of the two planes hint at their capabilities: North Korea’s best fighter jet is 40 years old, while South Korea’s entered service less than a month ago.

South Korea’s KF-21 Boramae has officially entered operational service, marking one of the country’s biggest aerospace milestones. The 4.5-gen indigenous Korean-made fighter jet was built for one purpose, and one purpose only: keeping the skies over South Korea safe in the event of a conflict with North Korea, Seoul’s bellicose northern neighbor.

Across the “demilitarized zone” (DMZ) splitting the two countries—a misnomer, as the 3 mile-wide strip of land separating the two Koreas is the most militarized place on Earth—North Korea’s most capable fighter remains the Soviet-built MiG-29 Fulcrum, a staple of the late Cold War. While both aircraft are twin-engine fighters optimized for air superiority, the aircraft are dramatically different in their design features, with clear advantages for the South Korean platform.

South Korea’s KF-21 Boramae vs. North Korea’s MiG-29 Fulcrum: A Direct Comparison

The KF-21 Boramae is an indigenous South........

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