Key facts
- The revised plan keeps the Navy and Air Force academies in Jinhae and Cheongju and moves the Army academy to the central Chungcheong region.
- Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul told parliament the revision is neither a retreat nor a compromise.
- The ministry is said to have reported an estimated cost of around 1.5 trillion won, down from 2.7 trillion won originally.
- Spokesperson Chung Binna said the actual budget will be set after a preliminary study on the plan.
South Korea's defense ministry said on November 12, 2026, that a proposed revision to its plan to merge the Army, Air Force and Navy academies is part of a process to increase public acceptance of the policy and its completeness.
The ministry recently briefed the National Assembly on the revised plan, which calls for a joint military academy in the central city of Daejeon while keeping the Navy and Air Force academies in the southern county of Jinhae and the central city of Cheongju, respectively, and moving the Army academy to the central Chungcheong region. It initially sought to consolidate the three academies into one school to strengthen inter-service cooperation and improve the efficiency of cadet education, a plan that drew opposition from academy alumni, opposition lawmakers and residents of Jinhae and Cheongju.
"(The revision) is part of a process to increase public acceptance of the policy and its completeness," Defense Ministry spokesperson Chung Binna said at a press briefing. "We will explain the revised plan once it is finalized." She added that opinions would continue to be gathered as the law establishing the joint academy and its enforcement decree are drafted.
Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul told parliament the previous day, November 11, 2026, that the revision is "neither a retreat nor a compromise." Yonhap reported that Chung's mention of public acceptance appeared to signal the ministry's openness to further adjustments.
The ministry is said to have reported to the National Assembly that the revised plan is estimated to cost around 1.5 trillion won ($1.1 billion), down from an original estimate of 2.7 trillion won. Chung said the actual budget will be determined after a preliminary study. "We are working to craft the revised plan in a way that ensures investment for future generations but minimizes and reduces costs," she said.