Lee Jae-myung, the President of South Korea, stated on August 5, "How many military coups have there been in South Korea? They have all occurred within the Army, haven't they?" He questioned whether any accountability has been assigned to those from the Army Academy who were involved in these events.
During a work report meeting at the Blue House with the Ministry of National Defense and other agencies, President Lee made these remarks while discussing the integration of the Army, Navy, and Air Force academies.
He noted, "What percentage of high-ranking generals come from the Army Academy? As you go higher up, they almost completely dominate the ranks, don't they? Despite committing acts that fundamentally undermine constitutional order, they still hold overwhelming positions of power, don't they?"
He continued, "If we separate the branches of the military and allow one specific branch to dominate for an extended period, occasionally leading to coups that disrupt the nation, should they not be held accountable? Integrating the academies could reduce such possibilities, don't you think?"
President Lee specifically referenced the recent emergency martial law situation under the previous administration, saying, "Could anyone have imagined that Army generals would support a military coup in a country that has democratized and become a developed nation in the eyes of the world?"
He emphasized the need to eliminate the potential for such actions, stating, "The majority of soldiers are loyal to the nation and fulfill their military duties, but a few engage in unforgivable acts. We must eliminate the potential for this."
An Kyoo-baek, the Minister of National Defense, responded, "We will pursue integration with a sense of responsibility. We will seek to persuade the public until they say, 'That's enough,' and will continue to make progress." In response, President Lee urged, "Act quickly and decisively. The discussions have been slow to yield results."
The Ministry of National Defense reiterated its plans to verify the Full Operational Capability (FOC) of the Future Combined Command and decide on the timeline for the transfer of wartime operational control during the upcoming South Korea-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) this fall.
President Lee also pointed out that negotiations for the return of U.S. military bases are taking too long, stating, "We spent over 10 trillion won just on land costs for the Pyeongtaek base. Yet, we are still facing various excuses for delays in the handover, and even after the handover, there are issues preventing us from using the land. This is a serious problem."
During the work report from the Ministry of Unification, President Lee remarked, "The lack of response from North Korea may make the Ministry feel like it is shouting into a void. It can be quite challenging. However, we must continue our policy of peace and coexistence, even if it is difficult."
Chung Dong-young, the Minister of Unification, suggested that both sides should start by addressing each other by name, stating, "We must stop using confrontational and hateful language towards each other, including terms like 'enemy.'" President Lee responded, "I think we need to seriously consider this."
He added, "Acts done in good faith can be distorted and exaggerated, becoming a justification for counterattacks, and can turn into weapons against unification and peace. If we get caught up in political disputes over expressions, it could lead to a worse situation."
During a work report meeting at the Blue House with the Ministry of National Defense and other agencies, President Lee made these remarks while discussing the integration of the Army, Navy, and Air Force academies.
He noted, "What percentage of high-ranking generals come from the Army Academy? As you go higher up, they almost completely dominate the ranks, don't they? Despite committing acts that fundamentally undermine constitutional order, they still hold overwhelming positions of power, don't they?"
He continued, "If we separate the branches of the military and allow one specific branch to dominate for an extended period, occasionally leading to coups that disrupt the nation, should they not be held accountable? Integrating the academies could reduce such possibilities, don't you think?"
President Lee specifically referenced the recent emergency martial law situation under the previous administration, saying, "Could anyone have imagined that Army generals would support a military coup in a country that has democratized and become a developed nation in the eyes of the world?"
He emphasized the need to eliminate the potential for such actions, stating, "The majority of soldiers are loyal to the nation and fulfill their military duties, but a few engage in unforgivable acts. We must eliminate the potential for this."
An Kyoo-baek, the Minister of National Defense, responded, "We will pursue integration with a sense of responsibility. We will seek to persuade the public until they say, 'That's enough,' and will continue to make progress." In response, President Lee urged, "Act quickly and decisively. The discussions have been slow to yield results."
The Ministry of National Defense reiterated its plans to verify the Full Operational Capability (FOC) of the Future Combined Command and decide on the timeline for the transfer of wartime operational control during the upcoming South Korea-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) this fall.
President Lee also pointed out that negotiations for the return of U.S. military bases are taking too long, stating, "We spent over 10 trillion won just on land costs for the Pyeongtaek base. Yet, we are still facing various excuses for delays in the handover, and even after the handover, there are issues preventing us from using the land. This is a serious problem."
During the work report from the Ministry of Unification, President Lee remarked, "The lack of response from North Korea may make the Ministry feel like it is shouting into a void. It can be quite challenging. However, we must continue our policy of peace and coexistence, even if it is difficult."
Chung Dong-young, the Minister of Unification, suggested that both sides should start by addressing each other by name, stating, "We must stop using confrontational and hateful language towards each other, including terms like 'enemy.'" President Lee responded, "I think we need to seriously consider this."
He added, "Acts done in good faith can be distorted and exaggerated, becoming a justification for counterattacks, and can turn into weapons against unification and peace. If we get caught up in political disputes over expressions, it could lead to a worse situation."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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