South Korea moves to merge army, navy and air force academies amid coup controversy

President Lee Jae‑myung said the planned integration of the Army, Navy and Air Force academies into a single National Military Academy would reduce the risk of future coups, citing past incidents such as the May 16 and December 12 coups that involved graduates of the Army Academy (육사). The Defense Ministry presented the merger as a move to improve jointness, efficiency, future‑war readiness and advanced scientific‑technology education.

Critics argue the real motive is political retaliation for the December 3 emergency decree imposed under former President Yoon Suk‑yeol, which they view as targeting the Army Academy and its alumni. They warn that the merger could harm the academies’ specialized capabilities and serve as punishment for the Army Academy’s perceived dominance in senior officer ranks, where graduates hold a disproportionate share of high‑level positions.