Alumni Associations of Army, Navy, and Air Force Academies Hold Rally Urging Reconsideration of Academy Integration

Collective Action with Lawmakers

"Security Is Not an Experiment"

The Alumni Associations of the Army, Navy, and Air Force Academies held a large-scale rally on July 8, voicing strong opposition to the government's policy of consolidating the military academies. This marks the first time that the joint alumni associations of the Army, Navy, and Air Force Academies have taken collective action on the issue of academy integration.

On this day, the joint alumni associations, together with Assemblymen Han Giho (31st class) and Lim Jongdeuk (42nd class) of the People Power Party—both graduates of the Army Academy—and the Army Academy cadet parents' association, held the "National Rally Opposing the Consolidation of the Army, Navy, and Air Force Academies and the Relocation of the Army Academy to a Provincial Area" on the steps in front of the National Assembly Main Building in Yeouido. They demanded a halt to the consolidation efforts and called for a fundamental review of the government's policy.

On the 8th, attendees including the Alumni Association of the Army, Navy, and Air Force Academies and the Army Academy cadet parents' association are saluting the national flag during the joint protest rally opposing the consolidation of the Army, Navy, and Air Force Academies and the relocation of the Army Academy to a provincial area held on the steps in front of the National Assembly Main Building. Photo by Yonhap News

Since rallies and demonstrations are not permitted on National Assembly grounds, the event was conducted in the format of a press conference by lawmakers. According to the organizers, nearly 2,000 people attended. Participants included 42 organizations, former superintendents of the Army Academy, and retired generals. Numerous opposition party lawmakers also joined as speakers prior to the main event.

In a resolution announced at the rally, the joint alumni associations stated, "The consolidation of the academies and the relocation of the Army Academy to a provincial area are critical national issues that could affect the history, tradition, identity, professionalism, and overall security of the armed forces." They criticized the government for pushing forward without objective verification, public consensus, or social agreement, and called for policy development that is transparent and objective, with the involvement of military experts, senior military figures, educators, and cadet parents if reform of the academies is deemed necessary.

Park Panjun, President of the Army Academy Alumni Association, said, "The consolidation being pursued by the government will not strengthen jointness or help recruit outstanding cadets. Security should never become a subject for experimentation, let alone a political sacrifice."

Secretaries-general of the respective alumni associations also expressed their individual positions. The Navy Academy Alumni Association argued that "naval cadets need to grow up seeing and smelling the sea," warning that consolidation could undermine the professionalism and identity of naval officers. The Air Force Academy Alumni Association stated that the current integration plan under discussion would make it "very difficult to cultivate elite officers specialized for the air and space environment." Kim Yohwan, former Army Chief of Staff, said, "If we are thinking about the future of the country and the military, it is urgent to improve service conditions for military officers and create an environment where top talent can choose the military with pride, rather than focusing on academy integration."

After the rally, participants plan to visit the Ministry of National Defense and deliver the resolution to the civil service office. The Ministry of National Defense is currently pushing for reform measures that would create a "Korea Military Academy," integrating the admission process for Army, Navy, and Air Force cadets to strengthen jointness within the military. The plan envisions common education for freshmen and sophomores, followed by specialized military education for juniors and seniors based on their chosen branch. Daejeon Jaundae is being discussed as a potential location for the common education program, both within and outside the military.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.