Military academy alumni demand apology from Defense Minister

The joint alumni association of the Korea, Naval, and Air Force Academies has demanded an explanation and apology from Defense Minister Ahn Kyu-baek, accusing him of misrepresenting the details of a recent meeting regarding military academy reform.

According to the association, during a meeting on August 12, Minister Ahn stated that the government would consider educational reform while maintaining the current academy system. However, the Ministry of National Defense subsequently denied this, stating that the Minister did not commit to maintaining the current system and would instead focus on achieving reform by reflecting various opinions.

The alumni association expressed frustration, claiming the Minister’s denial constitutes a mockery of the leadership. They have requested a public meeting with the President to discuss the issue, noting that the Minister appears to lack the authority to address the potential consolidation of the academies. The association warned it may boycott an upcoming public hearing on the founding of the military academies if a satisfactory explanation is not provided.