(LEAD) Defense chief meets alumni leaders of 3 military academies amid integration push

By Kim Hyun-soo

SEOUL, Aug. 12 (Yonhap) -- Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back met with alumni leaders from the Army, Navy, and Air Force academies on Wednesday to garner their backing for the government's plan to consolidate the three academies into one institution. The defense ministry announced the meeting took place at the ministry's headquarters in Seoul.

The alumni groups had previously organized a large demonstration against the integration proposal, urging the government to suspend the merger of the academies and conduct a thorough review of the plan. The South Korean government, led by President Lee Jae-myung, claims the integration aims to leverage the talents of future cadets due to an aging population and the need to adapt to changing warfare tactics.

However, the armed forces have strongly opposed the plan, arguing that each branch requires specialized training suited to its unique operational environment.

In response to the meeting, the alumni associations stated that Defense Minister Ahn promised to reconsider maintaining the current academy system during the push for educational reforms. The ministry, however, refuted these claims, stating that Ahn merely committed to listening to diverse viewpoints with an open mind during the reform process.

The defense ministry intends to weigh the various opinions gathered in the discussions to achieve the most effective reform of military academy education, with the establishment of the National Military Academy as the foundational principle, according to a press release. Deputy Defense Minister Kim Hong-cheol revealed that the ministry is evaluating a plan to utilize revenues from the sale of surplus land during the relocation process, in addition to state funds, to finance the new academy.

The total cost is estimated to exceed 3 trillion won ($2.1 billion), according to a local media interview.

The ministry intends to host a public hearing later this month and unveil a comprehensive plan for the new academy around October.