Jang Donghyuk: "Relocating the Korea Naval Academy Is an Attempt to Undermine National Defense"

"An 80-Year Legacy Cannot Be Closed
By a Five-Year Administration"

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, strongly opposed the government's plan to integrate the three military academies on the 11th, stating, "Trying to relocate the Korea Naval Academy without any justification or benefit is an attempt to undermine national defense."

On this day, during his visit to the Korea Naval Academy in Jinhae-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam Province, Jang met with Park Gyubaek, Superintendent of the Korea Naval Academy, and others. He expressed his opposition to relocating the academy, saying, "Although I have heard the Ministry of National Defense's position several times, I have never received a convincing explanation."

He argued, "The Lee Jaemyung administration is undermining the sense of mission and honor of the naval cadets," and insisted, "For military orders to have real authority and lead to victory in battle, they must have legitimacy and justification, but this consolidation plan has neither."

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, is giving a speech. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

In particular, Jang emphasized that field education at sea is essential in the training of naval officers. He pointed out, "The navy risks their lives at sea, learning with their bodies as they face the waves and wind, and endure sleepless nights on ships," adding, "To train naval officers at Jaundae, which has no sea, is no different from trying to raise football players without a field."

He continued, "A single administration, with a term of just five years, does not have the right to arbitrarily close the Naval Academy, which has accumulated an 80-year history."

Jang mentioned that 91.3% of cadets oppose the integration and that 15 former superintendents of the Naval Academy have also issued a statement against it, adding, "The government has not even held a single public hearing in Jinhae." He urged the government to fully gather the opinions of the stakeholders.

Starting with the Naval Academy, Jang plans to visit all three military academies—the Army, Navy, and Air Force. He stated, "I will deliver the voices I confirm in the field to the public," and pledged, "Together with the people, we will definitely block this unilateral and hasty integration of the military academies."

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