Public hearing set for Wed. over integration plan of military academies

SEOUL, August 25 (Yonhap) - The defense ministry will hold a public hearing on Wednesday to gather feedback on its proposal to merge the academies of the three military branches, officials announced on Tuesday. The hearing, set to commence at 2 p.m., will feature a debate among experts and an inquiry session, according to the ministry.

This initiative aims to consolidate the Army, Navy, and Air Force academies into a single institution at Jaundae, a central Daejeon training and education facility. President Lee Jae Myung's election campaign promised this integration. During the event, six participants, comprising former military academy graduates and professors, will participate in a debate, followed by a question-and-answer session.

The ministry pledged to carefully consider diverse viewpoints from the hearing to formulate the most effective plan for establishing the National Military Academy. However, the push for a unified military academy has encountered significant resistance from the armed forces, who contend that each service necessitates specialized training suited to its unique operational environment.