The South Korean government is set to hold public consultations regarding the establishment of a four-year integrated military academy that combines the Army, Navy, and Air Force academies, with a public hearing planned for early to mid-August.
A Defense Ministry official stated on July 16, following the announcement of the basic plan for the military academy, "We will continue to gather various opinions through public hearings and policy briefings after today’s announcement."
According to authorities on July 17, the ministry is considering holding the public hearing in the first or second week of next month.
Under the Administrative Procedures Act, agencies planning to hold a public hearing must announce it at least 14 days in advance. Public hearings can be conducted for decisions that have widespread impacts and require broad input.
If the public hearing takes place, it will provide an opportunity for open discussions on key issues, including the timeline for implementing the integrated entrance exam for the military academy, which has yet to be specified. A Defense Ministry official remarked the previous day, "We will allow sufficient time for future cadets to consider this matter, and we will hold consultations and public hearings in that regard."
While the public hearing will focus on gathering opinions from the general public, policy briefings will be aimed at soliciting feedback from military personnel.
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-baek is reportedly committed to directly meeting with alumni associations from each military academy to gather their insights.
As the integration of the military academies has become a political issue amid strong opposition from the opposition parties, there is keen interest in how the subsequent legislative process, including the Military Academy Establishment Act, will unfold.
The government aims to expedite the construction of the military academy facilities at the Daejeon Jowon base, with a legislative goal set for this year.
Han Byeong-do, acting leader of the Democratic Party and floor leader, stated during a party-government meeting the previous day, "We will swiftly process the Military Academy Establishment Act to lay the institutional groundwork."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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