South Korea considers unified military academy at Daejeon's Jaun-dae

The South Korean Ministry of National Defense is exploring a significant restructuring of its military education system, with plans to potentially establish a unified, four-year national military academy at Jaun-dae in Daejeon. This consolidated institution would bring together the existing Army, Navy, and Air Force academies under one roof, aiming to enhance joint operations and national defense capabilities.

According to a ministry official, the plan involves a "4-year integrated system" where all cadets would receive their entire education, from foundational studies to specialized military training, at the Jaun-dae campus. This approach marks a shift from an earlier consideration of a "2+2 network-type integration," which proposed two years of common education followed by two years of specialized training at separate service academies. The move towards a fully integrated system is intended to foster greater 합동성 (hapdongseong), or jointness, among the future officer corps.

The establishment of a new national military academy would necessitate the creation of separate legislation, as the current service academies operate under their own specific laws. The ministry is also reportedly considering expanding the scope of this unified academy into a comprehensive university, potentially incorporating other institutions like the National Military Nursing Academy and a future National Defense Advanced Technology Academy.

Before finalizing any plans, the Ministry of National Defense intends to engage in a thorough public consultation process. This will include public explanations of the basic plan for establishing the national military academy, as well as public hearings and policy briefings to gather feedback and refine the proposal. The ministry aims to move forward with the plan after this extensive period of opinion gathering.

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We plan to proceed with the plan after gathering opinions through public explanations of the basic plan for establishing the national military academy, public hearings, and policy briefings.