South Korea to create integrated military academy in Daejeon

The South Korean government and the ruling Democratic Party agreed to establish a single, four‑year military academy that will merge the Army, Navy and Air Force academies. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu‑back and Democratic Party leader Han Byung‑do announced the plan at a National Assembly consultative meeting, saying the current separate academies face practical limitations and that a unified institution will better prepare officers for future multi‑domain warfare.

The new academy is expected to be located at the Jaun‑dae site in Daejeon, a region already hosting several military training facilities. Daejeon officials anticipate the campus will bring more than 6,000 cadets, faculty and support staff to the city, boosting local housing, commerce and construction activity.

The proposal includes restructuring the existing Army, Navy and Air Force schools into a single “National Military Academy” with a common curriculum for the first two years and branch‑specific training thereafter. Law amendments will be required, and public hearings are planned. Critics, including alumni associations and some retired officers, warn that the consolidation could reduce branch‑specific expertise and view the move as politically driven.