On the 5th, President Lee Jae Myung said, “The Army academy (the Korea Military Academy) was at the center of three coups, yet it has never been held accountable,” and added, “We must create a rational education system that will make such things impossible going forward.” He called on the Ministry of National Defense to speed up work to integrate the Army, Navy, and Air Force academies.

At a morning briefing at the Blue House by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs·Ministry of Unification·Ministry of National Defense·Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, President Lee made these remarks while discussing the issue of founding an Armed Forces Academy that would integrate the three service academies. As the Ministry of National Defense announced a policy to establish a four-year Armed Forces Academy at Jaunde in Daejeon by integrating the three service academies, resistance to the integration emerged, led by the Korea Military Academy alumni association.

President Lee said, “The Korea Military Academy was the center that staged coups three times, yet it was never held accountable,” and added, “Who would have thought that Army generals would collude and stage a military loyalist coup? Should we not make sure that cannot happen again?” He said, “(The 12·3 insurrection and the like) are already in the past and were suppressed, but that does not mean they can be glossed over.”

President Lee asked the Ministry of National Defense about the share of senior generals who are graduates of the Korea Military Academy, saying, “Is it roughly half or more?” He continued, “Even though (the Korea Military Academy) carried out military coups and committed acts that completely destroyed the constitutional order of the nation three times, it still occupies an overwhelming position among senior generals.”

President Lee asked, “What would have happened if the 12·3 insurrection had succeeded?” He said, “If it had succeeded, Army captains would all have been standing behind, swiveling the chair of the chairperson and keeping watch. They would even have entered media companies and carried out censorship.” He then said, “Is there any case where, over a long period, officers from a particular service overwhelmingly dominate the military and, from time to time, stage military coups that tear the country apart yet bear no responsibility?”

President Lee asked Minister of National Defense Ahn Kyu-baek about cases abroad where service academies are integrated and operated. Minister Ahn said, “There are not many countries that have a service academy system,” but added, “Only some countries operate them separately, and very many run them in an integrated manner.” Kim Hong-cheol, director general for policy at the Ministry of National Defense, said, “Among countries that currently operate integrated service academies are Canada, Australia, and Japan.”

President Lee said, “We must provide the public with sufficient explanation of the need to integrate the service academies,” and added, “Some soldiers at times band together and commit unforgivable acts. A rational education system is essential to eliminate such possibilities.” He urged Minister Ahn to “carry it out quickly (the work to create the Armed Forces Academy),” emphasizing brisk policy implementation.

The Ministry of National Defense plans to hold a public hearing on the 26th at the Defense Convention in Seoul to gather public opinion on the creation of the Armed Forces Academy. The ministry intends to compile the views from the hearing and draw up a detailed plan in October for establishing the Armed Forces Academy.