Joint Alumni Associations of Military, Naval, and Air Force Academies Demand Withdrawal of Merger and Resignation of Defense Minister Ahn

The Alumni Associations of the Korea Military Academy, Naval Academy, and Air Force Academy on July 20 strongly condemned the Ministry of National Defense for what they described as an attempt to trample on the 80-year history and traditions of all three academies with its plan to establish an integrated Korea National Defense Academy. They demanded an immediate and total withdrawal of the government’s plan to close and consolidate the academies.

The presidents of the three alumni associations held a joint press conference in the National Assembly Communication Center that afternoon, declaring, “If the government ignores our requests, which are rooted in deep patriotism, we will embark on a resistance movement using every available legal method. We warn that the government will bear full responsibility for any ensuing consequences.” In attendance at the press conference were lawmakers Im Jongdeuk, Han Giho, and Lee Jongwook from the People Power Party, the presidents of the three alumni associations, and representatives of parent associations from the Korea Military Academy and Air Force Academy.

They stated, “The Ministry of National Defense has cited the falling birthrate, changes in the future battlefield environment, the transfer of wartime operational control, and insufficient jointness as reasons for the integration, but none of these justify abolishing the academies. In fact, they are all reasons to maintain the academies with even greater rigor.” They further argued that all four rationales are grounds for keeping the academies independent rather than closing them.

They also rejected the ministry's arguments of "economies of scale" and "administrative efficiency," asserting, "The quality of education and administrative efficiency are not interchangeable values." They criticized the reasoning that ‘elite officer training facilities should be relocated simply because national research institutions are clustered in Daejeon’ as “a narrow-minded bureaucratic idea.”

They called for both the withdrawal of the integrated academy plan and the resignation of Defense Minister Ahn Kyubaek and others involved. The alumni associations demanded, “The Ministry of National Defense must clarify why, with North Korea—officially declared a hostile state—right before our eyes, it is focusing entirely on dismantling the academy education system rather than strengthening our military power.” They added, “Defense Minister Ahn, who deceived the public with sophistry reminiscent of ‘calling a deer a horse,’ and National Assembly National Defense Committee Chair Jin Seongjun, who insulted the military with his arrogant and disrespectful remarks, should immediately apologize to the public and step down.”

Meanwhile, the Korea Military Academy alumni association asked the Ministry of National Defense to ensure that presenters and panelists for the government’s public hearing, which is scheduled for August, are selected in an objective and balanced manner. This request is based on the current Administrative Procedures Act, which stipulates that ‘in selecting the chair or presenters for a public hearing, fairness must be ensured by appointing those who are stakeholders or have expertise in the relevant field.’

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