Military academy alumni associations to join public hearing on proposed unified academy

The alumni associations of the Korea Military Academy, Naval Academy and Air Force Academy said they will participate in a scheduled public hearing on the government's plan to restructure the military academies. They also announced plans to form a separate national coalition to oppose the closure of the existing institutions.

The three alumni associations said Thursday they would announce the decision at a press briefing in Yongsan, Seoul.

The associations said that at a meeting on Aug. 12, their chairmen asked Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back about the possibility of improving the current academy system while keeping it intact, and that Ahn responded he would "review everything with an open mind."

The associations had issued a statement characterizing the meeting positively, but the Defense Ministry quickly denied that account, sparking a dispute. In response, the associations demanded an explanation and apology from the minister and said they were considering boycotting the public hearing on the establishment of a unified Armed Forces Academy.

With the Defense Ministry maintaining that the minister made no such remarks, the associations said they ultimately decided, after careful deliberation, to participate in the public hearing.

However, the associations said they believe the government has already treated the closure of the existing academies and the creation of a new unified Armed Forces Academy as a foregone conclusion, and is likely to use the public hearing as a mere formality.

To rally public opinion against the plan, the associations said they would organize a national coalition to oppose the academy closures.

"Security, civic, religious, cultural and parent organizations, as well as representatives of local communities, have agreed to take part," an association official said, adding that a press conference would be held Friday at the National Assembly's media center to explain the coalition's purpose and background.

Meanwhile, the Defense Ministry is scheduled to hold the public hearing on Wednesday and announce detailed plans for establishing the unified Armed Forces Academy in October.