'Directly tied to the fate of the nation … we will stop this'
People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok visited the Air Force Academy on Monday and said it was impossible to overstate how reckless and threatening to South Korea's future the hastily pursued plan to consolidate the country's military academies was.
Jang arrived at the academy in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, around 1 p.m. Drawing on his own service record at the institution, he said the cadets there were likely grappling with deep feelings of disappointment. "If you go back to the moment you chose the Air Force Academy — driven by the passion to defend this country — you find yourself asking: where do I stand, and where is South Korea headed?" he said.
Jang said he felt outrage at the consolidation plan. "Nothing about this academy, which produces true soldiers who guard South Korea's airspace, has changed in 30 years," he said. "Seeing that, I cannot help but feel fury that discussions about merging the three service academies — discussions directly tied to this country's security and its very fate — are being pushed forward in this way."
He added that he owed an apology to those who had served at the Army and Navy academies and to the soldiers who had long defended the country. "As a politician, I cannot help but say I am sorry and ashamed," he said.
Jang pledged to block the merger. "Together with the cadets who are honorably dedicating themselves to their studies and training to protect this country, we will absolutely stop the consolidation of the three service academies," he said. "I promise to lead the fight to ensure South Korea's security and defense stay on the right course."
Im Jong-deuk, who leads the opposition party's side on the National Assembly's National Defense Committee, also voiced opposition to the merger. "The consolidation of the military academies must be considered with great care," Im said. "The stated rationale for the merger keeps changing, and it has not won public support."
Im escalated his criticism, saying the Ministry of National Defense and the Lee Jae-myung administration were trying to push through legislation and spend budget while ignoring proper procedures despite widespread public opposition. "Centered on leader Jang, the People Power Party and the public will firmly oppose and stand against the integration of the Army, Navy and Air Force academies in the name of national security," he said.
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