Cadets push back on military academy merger over 'erosion of expertise'

Military cadets have pushed back against the government's fast-tracked plan to merge the Army, Navy and Air Force academies.

Participants of a roundtable on the move expressed concerns over the “erosion of each service's expertise and identity,” according to multiple government sources and the office of Rep. Lim Jong-deuk of the main opposition People Power Party on Monday.

It marked the first time the views of enrollees — those most directly affected by the restructuring — had been made public.

The merger, including a potential relocation of the Korea Military Academy from Seoul to the Jeolla region, has already ignited debate among academy alumni associations, civilian and military advisory bodies and politicians.

The cadets questioned the measures the government would take to ensure that relocating the academy would not discourage top talent from applying and to prevent a unified academy's curriculum from favoring one military branch over the others.

Some critics have warned that a merged academy could lead to an imbalance among military services as a disproportionate number of cadets seek Air Force assignments.

The cadets reportedly asked how the military would handle graduates being assigned to a branch they did not want to serve in. Some also argued that service-specific training should be expanded.

Such opinions were expressed throughout Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back's series of meetings with cadets as he sought to hear their opinions firsthand.

He visited the Military Academy on May 27, followed by the Naval Academy on June 10 and the Air Force Academy on June 15.

The Ministry of National Defense said only that the meetings featured "active communication" and "candid opinions." The ministry did not disclose further details. 

A number of professors and cadets at the Military Academy, which could be relocated to Jangseong County in the Jeolla region, reportedly voiced concerns about the merger. Some described the meetings as more of a rebuke than a discussion.

“We will design a curriculum that preserves the identity and expertise of each military branch while building a world-class military academy capable of attracting top students and faculty,” the Defense Ministry said during a roundtable meeting.

However, it was unclear whether the explanation came directly from Ahn or from ministry officials who were present during the discussion.

“We have not officially explained the Defense Ministry's proposal to each military academy,” the ministry told Rep. Lim’s office.

The statement may reflect the fact that the government's restructuring plan had not yet been finalized when the meetings were held. However, it could also mean that cadets — despite being directly affected by the reorganization — were not given a detailed explanation of the proposed changes in advance.

Calls to reform the current military academy system have emerged across the political aisle as applications have declined and the academies have struggled to adapt to changing times.

However, there remains deep disagreement over both the timing and the method of reform, particularly over whether the three academies should be merged.

“The agenda of integrating the academies has long been a recurring campaign pledge by both conservative and liberal presidential candidates, which includes the administrations of [conservative] former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye,” Choi Young Jin, a political science professor at Chung-Ang University, said.

The combined alumni association of the Army, Navy and Air Force academies, for its part, bristled at the move, saying, “The Lee Jae Myung administration is attempting to railroad the plan without sufficient consultation or public explanation.”

Critics also say that as the government accelerates the merger, it has paid too little attention to more fundamental questions, such as how the curriculum would be structured and how the competitiveness of each military branch would be maintained.

Building a new integrated academy would also require substantial spending beyond educational facilities, including new dormitories, faculty offices and housing, as well as the development of a new uniform.

As opposition to the proposal grows, the Defense Ministry appears to be under increasing pressure over how to proceed.

On Monday, the ministry abruptly postponed Ahn's planned announcement of the basic plan for an integrated military academy.

The ministry said the delay was due to changes in the minister's schedule at the government level. However, some observers speculated that the presidential office delayed the announcement due to the responses of the cadets and the public.

Ahn is scheduled to accompany President Lee Jae Myung to the NATO summit on Tuesday and Wednesday. The ministry is now expected to announce the basic plan after the minister returns to Seoul.

BY LEE YU-JUNG [[email protected]]