Defense chief to meet heads of alumni groups of 3 military academies amid integration push

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back is set to meet with the heads of alumni associations from the three Korean military academies - Army, Navy, and Air Force - on Wednesday, as part of the government's initiative to merge the institutions into a single National Military Academy, according to the defense ministry. The meeting will take place at the defense ministry compound in Seoul, where Ahn will discuss the plan with the presidents of the respective alumni associations.

The integration proposal has been met with significant opposition from the armed forces, citing the need for specialized training that is tailored to each service's unique operational environment. The Lee Jae Myung government argues that the merger is necessary to better utilize the talents of future cadets, address demographic challenges, and respond effectively to evolving warfare scenarios.

The proposed "National Military Academy" is estimated to cost over 3 trillion won (US$2.1 billion), with the ministry exploring potential funding sources such as profits from selling idle land and state funds. A public hearing is scheduled to be held later this month, followed by the unveiling of a detailed plan for the new academy around October.