Defense ministry conducting poll on military cadets over proposed academy integration

The Ministry of Defense is conducting a survey among military cadets to gather feedback on the proposal to merge the Army, Air Force, and Navy academies into a single military academy, according to a report by a defense ministry official. The nationwide online survey, set to run from Friday to Tuesday, will collect responses from 2,350 cadets across all four class years, excluding approximately 143 naval cadets who will be participating in rotational training.

The government is looking to revise its plan for the merger amid strong opposition from cadets and alumni, who argue that the merger could undermine the unique identities and specialized abilities of each service branch. In response, the ministry is reportedly considering relocating the Army's military academy away from Seoul, while maintaining the academies for the Air Force and Navy, as part of its efforts to refine the merger proposal.