Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul on Tuesday reiterated the need to integrate South Korea's Army, Navy and Air Force academies into a single institution, saying the reform is essential to preparing the military for future warfare and strengthening long-term security.
Kang made the remarks during a meeting with about 60 cadets from the three academies at the Korea Military Academy in northern Seoul. The gathering was intended to hear the cadets' views on the government's integration plan, which has become one of the most debated defense reforms of the year.
Location still under review
The minister said the location of the proposed academy remained under consideration. Under a basic plan unveiled in July, the government envisioned establishing an integrated military academy at Jaundae, a compound of military training and education facilities in Daejeon, about 140 kilometers south of Seoul. The original plan called for cadets from all three services to undergo four years of education at the new institution.
Since taking office in September, however, Kang, a graduate of the Korea Military Academy, has signaled a possible revision. The ministry is reportedly considering retaining some facilities at the naval and air force academies while relocating the Army academy, a compromise that could ease opposition from the smaller services.
Political backdrop
The push for integration gained additional urgency after President Lee Jae Myung said in August that Army academy graduates had been linked to past military coups and called for swift integration to prevent another coup. The remarks were widely interpreted as an allusion to military commanders' involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law attempt in December 2024.