The heavy rains did not deter voices opposing the government's plan to merge military academies. On July 8, approximately 2,000 protesters gathered in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, to oppose the government's proposal to merge the Army, Navy, and Air Force academies and relocate the Army Academy outside of Seoul.
The rally, held on the steps of the National Assembly, was co-hosted by lawmakers Han Gi-ho and Lim Jong-deuk, alumni associations from the Army, Navy, and Air Force academies, parents of cadets, retired military personnel, and civic groups.
Despite the pouring rain, attendance exceeded organizers' expectations. After the hour-long rally, representatives delivered a resolution to the Speaker of the National Assembly and then proceeded to the Ministry of National Defense to submit the resolution to Minister An Gyu-baek.
Participants criticized the government's plans for the merger and relocation as "hasty and lacking sufficient review," calling for an immediate withdrawal of the proposals.
This marks the first time the alumni associations of the Army, Navy, and Air Force academies have taken collective action on this issue. The government is considering a "2+2" model, where cadets from all branches would undergo common training in their first two years, followed by specialized training in their respective branches during their third and fourth years. The Ministry of National Defense is expected to announce a final plan as early as this month.
The Ministry views the restructuring of the military academies not merely as a school merger but as a reconfiguration of the system for training future combat personnel. Minister An emphasized at a recent meeting of key military commanders that advanced technologies such as AI, drones, and quantum technology are changing the nature of warfare, stating the need to cultivate officers capable of designing drone battlefields and conceptualizing AI-based operational systems. He noted that the current educational methods may not adequately prepare the military for the future beyond 2040.
Minister An also pointed to the decline in entrance exam scores for military academies as a signal of the need for reform, arguing that the current academies fail to instill confidence in talented individuals regarding their potential and vision. The Ministry maintains that while the expertise of each branch must be preserved, cadets should learn and train together from the academy stage to foster jointness. To achieve this, the Ministry is reviewing plans to enhance the educational goals, curriculum, faculty, facilities, and infrastructure of the academies, as well as to improve educational standards through partnerships with civilian universities.
However, opponents argue that the assumption that merging the academies will directly lead to enhanced jointness is flawed. They contend that joint operations begin not with the blending of education across branches but with each branch developing its own expertise suited to its operational environment and missions before integrating.
Alumni representatives from each military academy emphasized these concerns during the rally. They argued that Army officers need to develop field command capabilities to lead troops in ground operations, Navy officers must understand naval operations in the unique maritime environment, and Air Force officers should be trained in the speed and technical characteristics of aerospace operations from the outset.
They believe that military academy education is not merely a classroom experience but a time to internalize each branch's culture and mission awareness. Just as Navy officers must grow by experiencing the sea and Air Force officers must learn the mindset of aerospace operations early on, they argue that each branch's identity cannot be formed solely through later-stage education.
Debate continues over international examples. While countries like Canada and Australia operate integrated or common education-focused officer training systems, opponents argue that the scale of forces and security environments differ from South Korea, making direct comparisons difficult. Given South Korea's military standoff with North Korea, they assert that the ability to perform each branch's missions immediately upon commissioning is more critical.
Some opponents cite Venezuela as a notable failure where the integration of military academies under former President Hugo Chávez was linked more to political control over the military than to military efficiency. Some retired military personnel point out that even North Korea, with its centralized military structure, operates separate training institutions for Air Force officers.
Lawmaker Han Gi-ho stated, "National policy must have both justification and practical benefits," adding that the merger of military academies lacks both.
A representative from the alumni association of the military academies described the proposal as a "hasty policy," arguing it would not aid in enhancing jointness or attracting top talent and would not yield significant financial benefits.
He asserted, "National security cannot be a subject of experimentation" and should not become a scapegoat for political controversy.
The resolution adopted at the rally emphasized that any restructuring of the officer training system should be based on thorough research and consensus among the public, military experts, retired personnel, educators, and parents of cadets, rather than political considerations.
The resolution stated, "National security must never be a subject of policy experimentation," and that the officer training system responsible for the future of South Korea should not be swayed by political interests.
Lee Yang-gu, the chair of the rally organizing committee, criticized the government's proposal for misunderstanding the essence of military joint operations.
In an interview, he stated, "Simply educating cadets together does not create jointness; jointness is only possible after each branch has developed its own expertise."
He explained that in the current military education system, jointness training occurs after each branch has built its own specialization. He noted, "Each branch trains officers while preserving its unique traditions and expertise, and then jointness is reinforced at institutions like the Joint Military University or the Joint Staff College," adding that there are separate Army, Navy, and Air Force academies, and jointness is enhanced at the Joint Staff College after reaching a certain rank.
He further pointed out that actual joint operations are primarily handled by officers at the rank of major or higher in joint or combined commands, emphasizing that focusing on jointness training at the military academy level does not align with reality.
A representative of parents of cadets expressed concern, stating, "Our children are confused and hurt by reports that their chosen military academy may be merged and that the Army Academy will be relocated." He added that the Ministry of National Defense has not adequately explained the plans to cadets or gathered their opinions.
He also argued that relocating the Army Academy outside of Seoul could further diminish its appeal, which is already struggling to attract top talent. Daejeon's military education and training facility, Jowondae, is being considered as one of the candidates for the common training program.
Lee emphasized, "If the government is worried about declining application rates, it should improve the treatment of professional soldiers, especially junior officers, as that is the way to attract top talent."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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