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The government and the ruling Democratic Party (DP) have pledged to swiftly push ahead with the establishment of an integrated military academy for the Army, Navy, and Air Force, a move they say would sharply enhance the country's defense capabilities in the fast-changing security environment.

The commitment came during a policy consultation meeting at the National Assembly, where the government and ruling party were expected to unveil a detailed plan. The integration proposal, which seeks to unify the separate service academies into a single "National Military Academy," has been part of the Lee Jae Myung administration's defense reform agenda.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from Yonhap News indicate that the defense ministry had initially planned to announce the proposal's outline on July 6, but postponed the announcement due to the defense chief's overlapping schedules. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back was due to present the plan at a press briefing but was instead requested by Cheong Wa Dae to attend a meeting presided over by President Lee to review the "three mega projects" initiative. Ahn also planned to leave for Turkey to accompany Lee for the NATO summit, where he was invited to a social reception with defense ministers of Australia, Japan, and New Zealand.

At the July 16 meeting, the government and ruling party appeared to have moved forward, with the detailed plan expected later in the day. The meeting was closed to the press after the opening remarks, and details of the discussions were not immediately available.

Key Claims

  • The government and ruling party pledged to swiftly establish an integrated military academy, a move they say would "sharply enhance" defense capabilities.
  • Rep. Han Byung-do, the acting leader of the DP, said the current system of separate academies "faces a number of practical limitations," and that setting up the unified academy is "a task that can no longer be put off."
  • Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back expressed his commitment to military reforms, noting he was "the first civilian defense minister in 64 years" and that the path to reform was not easy but not impossible.
  • The Lee Jae Myung government has been seeking to unify the military academies as part of efforts to pool talented future cadets amid demographic decline and to better respond to evolving warfare.

Perspectives

The plan has drawn criticism from the main opposition party and graduates of the military academies, who argue the government is pushing for integration in a "hasty" manner without sufficient public debate. Their concerns were noted by sources in the earlier postponement article.

The government and ruling party, however, view the integration as a necessary reform to modernize military education and address the shortcomings of the existing separate academy system, as expressed by Rep. Han and Defense Minister Ahn.

This article is based on reporting by Yonhap News.