Park Hu-seong, the Superintendent of the Army Academy, emphasized on October 22 that the integration of military academies should proceed only after enhancing the basic plan and forming a consensus through diverse opinions.
Speaking at a National Assembly Defense Committee audit held at the Army Academy in Nowon-gu, Seoul, Park acknowledged the need for innovation and change in military education but also recognized the concerns of cadets and faculty members.
He added, "I have continuously made suggestions through the official chain of command. If necessary, I will continue to voice these suggestions during the process of concretizing the integration of military academies."
In response to a question from Democratic Party lawmaker Min Hong-cheol regarding whether the lack of a written response to the National Assembly's inquiry about the integration indicated opposition, Park stated, "It is not appropriate for a school head on the ground to express opinions on policies promoted by the Ministry of National Defense," clarifying that it did not imply opposition. He acknowledged that while he agrees that integration would enhance jointness, efforts to strengthen jointness are already being made within the currently separate military academies.
In contrast, Park Heung-jae, Superintendent of the Air Force Academy, noted, "While integrated education can help strengthen jointness, it should be implemented without compromising professionalism and identity." Park Kyu-baek, Superintendent of the Naval Academy, remarked that the expected benefits of integration should be analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively.
During the audit, differing opinions emerged among lawmakers with military backgrounds. Kim Byeong-joo, a four-star general and special advisor on defense policy to the president, argued that the integration of military academies is not solely a push by the Lee Jae-myung administration but has been pursued by nearly all governments since the Korean War, asserting that it is a demand of the times.
Conversely, National Power Party lawmaker Kang Seon-young, a former army major general, expressed concern, stating, "If it takes five to 15 years for apartment reconstruction, how can a government that was established last June integrate in just two years?" He criticized the potential loss of identity among the branches, saying it would be like turning the Air Force, Army, and Navy into ducks.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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