South Korea's Integrated Military Academy Faces 2028 Admission Timing and Legal Controversy

The South Korean government has approved the creation of a four‑year integrated National Military Academy at the Jaun‑dae campus in Daejeon. The ruling Democratic Party plans to pass the related establishment law this year so that the first class can be admitted in 2028.

Lawmakers, including Defense Committee chair Jin Seong‑jun, say the legislation must be completed by year‑end, after which “the admission plan for the 2028 class can be pursued.” However, critics note that current higher‑education law requires universities to publish admission plans at least 1 year and 10 months before the entry year. If the academy follows a 2028 intake, the required announcement should have been made in early 2026, which the Ministry of National Defense says it has not done. The defense ministry argues the academy’s own law may exempt it from the general pre‑announcement rule, but the higher‑education law is still considered applicable to the academy’s general education components. Public hearings and a detailed implementation plan are scheduled for October to address these concerns.