The Chosen Army of the Imperial Japanese Army was headquartered in Keijo (now Seoul), and was responsible for the garrison of and operations on the Korean Peninsula during the Period of Japanese Rule. Originally consisting of two divisions, by the end of World War II, it became the 17th Area Army. It was subordinate to the Japan Defence Army until August of 1945 when the Soviet Red Army launched Operation August Storm. Then it was transferred to the Kantogun but never saw combat. As with other Japanese armies, it remained armed until allied forces could arrive and consolidate power.
