According to military officials, the ministry is reviewing a plan to create a new Armed Forces Academy at Jaundae, a major military education and training complex in Daejeon, as part of its broader push to integrate the three service academies.
The plan would mark a shift from an earlier “2+2” model, under which cadets would be jointly selected and receive common education during their first two years before moving to their respective service academies for specialized training in their third and fourth years.
The ministry is now said to be giving greater weight to a four-year integrated program at Jaundae, citing the need to strengthen jointness among future officers.
Under the proposal, cadets would live and study at Jaundae for all four years, while receiving service-specific major courses and professional education from their upper years to preserve the expertise required by each branch.
Jaundae, located in Daejeon’s Yuseong District, is home to several key military education institutions, including the Army College, Naval College, Air Force College and Joint Forces Military University.
The latest proposal comes amid growing debate over the government’s academy reform plan. The ministry has argued that an integrated academy would strengthen jointness, reduce overlapping education and better prepare officers for future warfare, while critics, including alumni groups, parents of cadets and retired officers, have warned that a rushed merger could weaken service-specific expertise and identity.
Earlier this month, about 2,000 people gathered in heavy rain outside the National Assembly to protest the plan, saying the government should provide clearer explanations before changing the officer training system.
The ministry is also reportedly considering a longer-term plan to expand the new academy into a comprehensive military university that would eventually include other institutions, such as the Armed Forces Nursing Academy and a planned defense advanced technology academy.
The Defense Ministry is expected to announce the basic plan in the coming days, possibly as early as Thursday.
“We will soon provide the public with a detailed explanation of the basic plan to establish a world-class Armed Forces Academy aimed at training elite officers capable of leading victory in future warfare,” a ministry official said. “The plan will be further developed through open consultations, including public hearings and policy briefings.”
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