Lawmakers of the People Power Party on the National Defense Committee held a press conference at the National Assembly on the 6th, sharply criticizing the government's push to integrate the Army, Navy, and Air Force academies and calling for its immediate halt.

The government had previously cited the establishment of an officer training system, strengthening of joint operations, and educational efficiency as justifications for the integration. However, People Power Party lawmakers argued that President Lee Jae-myung's true intentions were revealed when he directly mentioned 'preventing military coups' as the reason for pushing the integrated academy during a Ministry of National Defense work report the previous day. They pointed out that attempting to resolve the issue of military political neutrality through the consolidation of military academies is fundamentally flawed.

At the press conference, People Power Party lawmakers on the National Defense Committee, including Representative Han Ki-ho (Chuncheon-Cheorwon-Hwacheon-Yanggu-eul), warned that if the government unilaterally forces the integration, all responsibility will fall on the president.

During a Q&A session with reporters, Representative Han Ki-ho emphasized that it is irrational to consolidate the academies by applying a guilt-by-association system to the Korea Military Academy. He argued that it is unfair to hold an entire institution accountable for the wrongdoings of individuals. He said, 'You cannot abolish a medical school because a doctor caused a malpractice incident, and you cannot shut down Seoul National University or its law school simply because former President Yoon Suk-yeol graduated from Seoul National University's law school,' arguing that the guilt-by-association approach must be stopped. He also cited a past remark by former President Roh Moo-hyun, noting that 'a daughter does not bear the sins of her father because of her father-in-law's leftist activities.'

Representative Han also raised strong criticism regarding overseas examples cited by the Minister of National Defense and the Policy Director during the work report the previous day. He pointed out that among the world's 30 major countries, 24 countries with military forces of 200,000 or more operate separate military academies for each branch, and only a few countries such as Japan and Nigeria operate integrated academies. He claimed that the government is distorting overseas examples to mislead the public.

During the press conference, People Power Party lawmakers on the National Defense Committee emphasized that the vast majority of cadets and officers carry out their duties for the nation and its people without political involvement. They stated that taking national security hostage for partisan bias must be stopped immediately, and that sufficient social discussion convincing to both the military and the public is necessary. They reiterated that if the policy is pushed unilaterally, responsibility for the consequences lies with the president.

Meanwhile, President Lee Jae-myung stated during the Ministry of National Defense work report the previous day that 'the military coups that occurred in South Korea took place within the Army, which includes graduates of the Korea Military Academy,' and instructed that the push for an integrated academy be carried out swiftly and decisively.