[Anchor]
The government has announced plans to establish an 'Armed Forces Academy' in Jaundae, Daejeon, by integrating the existing Army, Navy, and Air Force academies. The plan aims to create a specialized four-year comprehensive university, with the current military academies operating as 'faculties' under the new institution.
Reporter Kim Jeongyun has the story.
[Reporter]
The Democratic Party and the government held a policy consultation at the National Assembly this morning, July 16, 2026, and announced the basic plan to create the 'Armed Forces Academy' by merging the three military academies.
The academy will be located in Jaundae, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, where various military educational facilities are currently concentrated.
[Ahn Gyu-baek / Minister of National Defense: We will establish the integrated Armed Forces Academy in the heart of South Korea's science and technology sector, which possesses an optimal intellectual foundation including KAIST, and build a state-of-the-art smart campus.]
The curriculum is designed as a four-year integrated program, moving away from the previously discussed '2+2' model—where cadets would study at an integrated academy for two years and then at their respective service academies for the remaining two.
Under this new structure, the existing Army, Navy, and Air Force academies will function like 'faculties' within the integrated university.
However, the timeline for when the first class of students will be recruited was not announced today.
The Ministry of National Defense stated that it plans to announce detailed plans around October after gathering feedback through public hearings and other channels.
[Ahn Gyu-baek / Minister of National Defense: We will gradually increase the ratio of civilian professors to over 50 percent and ensure their compensation is on par with national universities, so that top scholars can participate in the front lines of officer training.]
The integration of the military academies was a presidential campaign pledge by President Lee Jae-myung, and the Ministry of National Defense has been accelerating the process since last year by establishing an advisory body directly under the Minister.
However, there has been persistent opposition, particularly from the alumni associations of the three military branches and lawmakers from the People Power Party, who have raised concerns regarding potential declines in national security and professional expertise.
Reported by Oh Young-chun | Video edited by Lee Seung-yeol | Produced by SBS Digital News
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.