Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has expressed concern that the government's push to merge the army, navy, and air force academies could undermine each branch's expertise and identity.
In a post titled "The Officer Training System, a Long-Term National Security Plan, Must Not Be Shaken," which he uploaded to social media Friday, Oh stressed that "the officer training system is a long-term national security plan."
"This is not something to be pursued merely on the pretext of fulfilling a presidential campaign pledge, without sufficient review and national consensus," he said. "The expertise and identity that each branch has accumulated over a long time must not be shaken for the surface-level reason of strengthening jointness." He added, "The United States also operates the Military Academy, the Naval Academy, and the Air Force Academy separately, while building combined operational capabilities through a joint staff system and joint education." He noted, "I believe jointness is not created by merging schools into one, but is completed only when each branch cooperates based on its own expertise. Comprehensive art is important, but that is the reason we do not merge art, music, and physical education colleges."
Oh also raised his voice, saying, "Moreover, if this merger has as another purpose relocating the Korea Military Academy to supply housing on the Taereung CC site, then even more caution is needed, and what matters most is the will of local residents." He said, "Whether it is developing Taereung CC or relocating the Korea Military Academy, this is not a matter for the central government to decide unilaterally. A process of thoroughly reviewing the impact on residents' living environment, transportation, education, culture, and environment, and obtaining residents' understanding and consent, must absolutely come first."
Oh stressed, "The importance of housing supply cannot be overstated," but added, "However, the officer training system accumulated over 80 years and the historical assets of the armed forces are difficult to restore once damaged. In particular, Taereung and Hwarangdae are symbolic spaces where the tradition of the Republic of Korea's armed forces has accumulated, as well as important security assets of Seoul." He continued, "Just as the government is trying to cram 10,000 units into the Yongsan International Business District without any plan for schools, I am concerned about whether it also intends to use the Korea Military Academy, a bastion of security, to increase the number of housing units." He noted, "The opinions of the cadets and active-duty service members who are the parties to this policy must also be sufficiently reflected."
Regarding the direction the military should take going forward, Oh stressed, "What is needed now is not a show-off merger but reform that raises the military's competitiveness." He said, "Restoring the military's morale, which has been shaken by declining application rates for junior officers, the outflow of talented personnel, and issues with service conditions and treatment, and enabling young talent to choose the military with pride, are more urgent tasks."
