(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Cho Daun and Lee Yulip = People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk said on the 7th, "We will take the lead in fighting to ensure that the integration of the three military academies is prevented and that the security and defense of the Republic of Korea are properly maintained."
Regarding the integration of the three military academies of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, which is being promoted by the government, Representative Jang visited the Air Force Academy in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province this afternoon and made this statement. CEO Jang, who served as an Air Force officer, served as an instructor at this school.
CEO Jang expressed his thoughts, saying, "I am happy and filled with new emotions to be able to visit the Air Force Academy again after more than 30 years," but also added, "As the timing was difficult, on the other hand, I had no choice but to return to the construction site with a heavy heart."
At the same time, he said, "I cannot help but feel angry that the discussion on the integration of the three military academies, which is directly related to the security and fate of the Republic of Korea, is proceeding in this way," and said to the cadets and soldiers, "As a politician, I cannot help but say that I am sorry and ashamed."
The visit to the Air Force Academy on this day was attended by Rep. Lim Jong-deuk, a graduate of the Korea Military Academy and the secretary of the opposition party on the National Defense Committee of the National Assembly, as well as Rep. Lee Jong-wook, whose constituency is Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, where the Naval Academy is located, and Reps. Park Seong-hoon, Kim Jang-gyeom, and Park Jun-tae.
Representative Lim said, “With Representative Jang at the center, I will resolutely oppose and block the integration of the Army, Navy and Air Force Academy for the sake of our people’s power and the security of our people.”
Representative Jang plans to visit the Naval Academy in Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do on the 11th to listen to on-site concerns regarding the merger.
Earlier on this morning, Representative Jang attended a discussion session hosted by Rep. Lim on ‘Collapse of national security, alternatives to hasty merger and abolition of military academies.’
Representative Jang criticized at this event, saying, “The ultimate goal of the military academies merger is the collapse of national defense, which drains the power of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces,” and added, “What should never be done, and what would take 10 years to do is not enough, is said to be completed within President Lee Jae-myung’s term.”
Representative Jang pointed out, “The place they are planning to go to in such a hurry is Jaundae, which has no runway or port,” and added, “Let alone jointness, even professionalism will be low. No country trains officers in this kind of environment.”
Five-term lawmaker Na Kyung-won said, “If I were to summarize what this government is doing in three points, it would be dismantling security, dismantling alliances, and destroying the constitutional order.” He added, “By dismantling the military academy, we will replace all the forces that protect the existing constitutional order.”
Rep. Na referred to Kim Min-woong, the standing leader of the Candlelight Movement, who is the older brother of Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, as "the regime's 'under organization'," referring to the fact that he led a protest calling for the withdrawal of the US 7th Air Force in front of the Gwangju military airport base in conjunction with the announcement of three major mega projects by the government and the ruling party.
He pointed out, “If (the policy stance) ends up being anti-American, what will happen to the future of the Republic of Korea?”
