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🇰🇷 South Korea /Conflict & Security

Daejeon Mayor Welcomes Military Academy Creation, Aims to Make Daejeon a Defense Innovation City

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Daejeon Mayor Heo Tae-jeong welcomed the government's plan to establish the Korea Military Academy in the city's Jayeondae area.
  • The mayor stated the academy's creation will open a new paradigm in national defense education and lead future defense innovation.
  • Daejeon anticipates significant economic and industrial ripple effects, projecting the influx of over 6,000 people including cadets, faculty, and support staff.

Daejeon Mayor Heo Tae-jeong has enthusiastically welcomed the government's decision to establish the Korea Military Academy in the Jayeondae area of Yuseong-gu, Daejeon. The mayor described the plan not merely as a relocation but as a strategic national project that will pioneer a new era in defense education and drive future defense innovation.

"Daejeon will leap forward as a central city where national defense education and advanced science and technology converge," Mayor Heo stated during a press briefing. He emphasized the academy's potential to generate economic and industrial impacts comparable to major corporations. The city has pledged its full administrative support in close cooperation with the Ministry of National Defense to ensure the academy's successful establishment.

The creation of the Korea Military Academy in Daejeon's Jayeondae is not simply a relocation project for an academy, but a national strategic project that will open a new paradigm in national defense education and lead future defense innovation.

— Heo Tae-jeongDaejeon Mayor Heo Tae-jeong described the significance of establishing the military academy in his city.

The integrated academy will combine the Army, Navy, and Air Force academies. Jayeondae already hosts the Army, Navy, and Air Force Colleges, the Korea Armed Forces Nursing Academy, and the Armed Forces Daejeon Hospital, situated approximately 20 kilometers from Gyeryongdae, the headquarters of the three military branches.

Daejeon will leap forward as a central city where national defense education and advanced science and technology converge.

— Heo Tae-jeongThe mayor expressed his vision for Daejeon's role in defense and technology.

Daejeon anticipates that the academy will attract around 6,000 individuals, including 2,940 cadets, 338 faculty members, and 2,687 support personnel. This influx is expected to boost the local population and invigorate the regional economy. The city plans to leverage the academy's development as a catalyst for the Jayeondae Space Re-creation Project, aiming to create a defense innovation hub linked with nearby military and educational institutions like the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), KAIST, and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

To facilitate the smooth settlement of cadets, faculty, and their families, Daejeon plans to improve living conditions, including housing, education, culture, and daily life amenities, alongside expanding transportation infrastructure. The city also aims to maximize local economic benefits by increasing the participation of regional construction and specialized companies in the project.

The Korea Military Academy will foster officers equipped with creative and convergent thinking, professionalism, and technological sensitivity.

— Ahn Gyu-baekMinister of National Defense Ahn Gyu-baek spoke about the academy's educational goals.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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