Defense chief reiterates need to integrate military academies

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul reiterated on Tuesday the necessity of merging the Army, Navy, and Air Force academies into one institution, emphasizing its importance for future military preparedness, according to his office. The minister addressed a gathering of around 60 cadets from the three academies at the Korea Military Academy in northern Seoul to collect their perspectives on the government's integration strategy.

During the session, Kang emphasized his backing for the creation of the proposed National Military Academy, aiming to better equip future officers for changing warfare tactics and bolster the nation's long-term security. However, he noted that the exact location of the academy is still under consideration. A cadet from the Army suggested that military education reform should be separated from any past misdeeds by certain Army officers, referencing President Lee Jae Myung's comments in August.

In those remarks, Lee linked Army academy graduates to previous military coups and called for a prompt integration to avert another coup. Lee's comments were seen as a reference to the potential involvement of military commanders in coup attempts.