Military Academy Alumni Rally Against Merger, Demand Full Review

The alumni associations of the Korea Army, Navy and Air Force academies held a mass rally Monday, calling for a halt to the push to merge the military academies.

The rally, titled "National Rally Against the Merger of the Army, Navy and Air Force Academies and the Relocation of the Korea Military Academy to the Provinces," was held on the steps of the main National Assembly building in Yeouido, Seoul. According to organizers, nearly 2,000 people took part, including the alumni associations, People Power Party lawmakers Han Ki-ho (31st class) and Lim Jong-deuk (42nd class)—both graduates of the Korea Military Academy—and a group of cadets' parents. It was the first time the alumni associations of the three academies took collective action over the academy merger issue.

In a resolution, the alumni associations pointed out that "the merger of the military academies and the relocation of the Korea Military Academy to the provinces are major national issues that could affect the history, tradition, identity and expertise of the armed forces, as well as national security as a whole." They added, "Although this should be pursued based on objective verification, national consensus and social agreement, the government is ignoring this and pushing ahead hastily."

They stressed that if reform of the military academies is necessary, the policy should be designed openly and objectively through a consultative body involving military experts, senior military figures, educators and cadets' parents. They also declared, "Until our demands are met, we will fight to the end within legal bounds for national security, the future of the armed forces, and the safety and peaceful life of the people."

Park Pan-jun, president of the Korea Military Academy alumni association, pointed out, "The merger the government is pursuing does not help strengthen jointness or recruit outstanding cadets." He added, "Security must not become the subject of an experiment, and even less should it become a political sacrifice." After the rally, participants visited the Ministry of National Defense and delivered the resolution to its civil affairs office.

The Ministry of National Defense is currently pursuing a plan to establish a "National Armed Forces Academy" and jointly select cadets from the Army, Navy and Air Force academies, in a bid to strengthen the jointness of the military. Under the plan, first- and second-year cadets would receive common education together, while third- and fourth-year cadets would choose a service and receive service-specific specialized major education.