[Anchor]

President Lee Jae-myung has ordered the swift promotion of integrating the military service academies. Noting that all three historical coups in South Korea were centered around the Korea Military Academy (KMA), he explained that integration is necessary partly to keep the KMA in check.

Reporter Kim Ayeong has the details.

[Reporter]

During the presidential policy briefing by foreign affairs and national security ministries held yesterday morning at the-Blue House (Cheong Wa Dae),

President Lee Jae-myung received a report from the Ministry of National Defense on the integration plan for the Army, Naval, and Air Force academies, and emphasized the point by noting that while all three past military coups were spearheaded by the KMA, they were never held accountable.

[President Lee Jae-myung: Is there any other case where officers from a specific military branch overwhelmingly dominate the military, occasionally stage military coups that ruin the country, and yet face zero responsibility afterward? Integrating them would reduce the likelihood of such occurrences.]

This made it clear that the purpose of integrating the academies lies in "keeping the KMA in check."

Raising the possibility of a recurrence of coups by asking, "Couldn't they do it again?", President Lee instructed that the integration must be carried out swiftly and forcefully, stressing, "We must structurally ensure they can never do it."

Regarding the delayed return of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) stationed land across the country—even after U.S. military bases relocated to the Pyeongtaek base, which the government spent 10 trillion won to build—he bluntly stated that it "makes no sense by common sense."

[President Lee Jae-myung: From my perspective, it sounds almost like an excuse. They don't hand them over for various reasons, or even when they do, they attach conditions and prevent us from using them. Isn't this a real problem?]

[Ahn Gyu-back / Minister of National Defense: We will proceed with a sense of speed.]

When Minister of National Defense Ahn Gyu-back reported that the U.S. side was passive, President Lee pointed out, "That is why you shouldn't pay in advance."

Regarding the Ministry of Unification's report proposing to pursue a change in terminology to refer to North Korea as "Joseon," President Lee urged caution, saying, "We need to think very carefully about this."

[President Lee Jae-myung: Sometimes, when you try to do the right thing with good intentions, it gets seized upon as an excuse for attacks, ultimately resulting in an even worse situation.]

Stating that "independent national defense is the ultimate goal," President Lee repeatedly expressed his determination to transition wartime operational control (OPCON) within his term.

(Video Editing: Lee Seung-hee)