Military Academy Alumni Denounce Merger as 'Reckless' and 'Retaliatory'

Alumni associations of South Korea's Army, Navy, and Air Force academies have vehemently opposed the government's decision to merge the three institutions into a single National Defense University. They decried the plan as a "reckless act" and a "national betrayal" that would plunge the public into security anxiety.

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This is a reckless act that makes no sense... a retaliatory measure.

The associations asserted that the merger, with the Army academy relocating from its current Taereung site, is a politically motivated "retaliatory measure." They argued that the goals of the merger could be achieved through facility upgrades and institutional reforms without 폐교 (closing down) the existing academies. This move, they contend, aims to sever the identity, history, and tradition of each service academy.

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This is a national betrayal that drives the public into security anxiety.

"How can you aim for an ocean-going navy when you move the Naval Academy to a place completely unrelated to the sea?" the associations questioned. They also raised concerns about the Air Force Academy's relocation, asking how aspiring cadets could dream of space exploration if confined to a dense area lacking even a proper runway.

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How can you aim for an ocean-going navy when you move the Naval Academy to a place completely unrelated to the sea?

The alumni suspect that the push for integration is influenced by issues surrounding the December 3rd emergency martial law incident and the involvement of high-ranking military officials from the Army academy. They urged the government to seriously consider the matter from a consumer's viewpoint, not just a provider's, and warned that they would unite with other security organizations, civic groups, religious bodies, and military personnel to fight the decision. The government will bear full responsibility for any negative outcomes, they stated.

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The relocation of the Army Academy from Taereung to a provincial area is a typical retaliatory measure stemming from political calculations, which is absolutely unacceptable.