Korea Military Academy cadets march along Sejong-daero, Seoul, during the 76th Armed Forces Day parade on October 1, 2024. [Photo=Yonhap News]

Recently, former Justice Party lawmaker Kim Jong-dae disparaged the main pillars of national security as an "organized cartel," citing the "history of coups" among Korea Military Academy (KMA) graduates.

This is a distortion of the military's dedication and life-saving decisions that have defined modern Korean history. Undermining the legitimacy of the KMA—the ultimate bastion of our national security—is a dangerous and demented political offensive that fails to remember the truth.

I wish to ask those who judge history solely through the logic of winners and losers and disparage the military: Was the freedom and prosperity enjoyed by today’s Republic of Korea obtained for free?

We reject the intentional and malicious perspective that seeks to condemn the May 16, December 12, and December 3 events by trapping them within the simple frame of a "coup."

One, do not disparage the military's life-saving decisions to rescue the nation as coups.

No citizen with a proper sense of history and patriotism denies that the May 16 event was not a "coup," but a "national salvation revolution" that laid the foundation for Korea's industrialization and secured the survival and basic rights of a people left in the ashes and hunger following the Korean War.

The December 12 military incident was an unavoidable, life-saving decision necessitated by the unprecedented, heinous assassination of the President, and the December 3 martial law declaration was a similarly necessary decision made to protect the liberal democratic system and restore constitutional order during a crisis of national collapse.

Ignoring the life-or-death crises the nation faced at the time and judging these events as "coups" solely through a retrospective lens is a form of violence that castrates the historical context; it is a distortion of history and part of the pro-communist forces' attempt to erase the Republic of Korea.

Two, stop the distorted claims and intentional attacks against the KMA.

Baseless attacks against the KMA are an atrocity that merely exposes one's own ignorance. The KMA is Korea’s first elite academy, established in the early days of the nation by transplanting the essence of advanced American democratic systems and military education.

Officers produced by this institution are not merely soldiers skilled in military tactics; they are individuals who have internalized the values of loyalty, filial piety, and national identity, understanding that they must defend Korea’s liberal democratic values and stand at the forefront during national crises.

There are currently about 20,000 living KMA graduates, which is only 0.0004% of the total population. Until now, there has been no way to counter those saturated in totalitarian ideology when they slander the KMA to the general public.

The majority of the public knows that the KMA has been a pillar of national security since the founding of the Republic. Nevertheless, we painfully observe the reality where the status of the KMA is being shaken, the military’s political neutrality is being destroyed, and the military is being used like a political servant.

When political condemnation was carried out in the past under the pretext of the "purge of the Hanahoe," the military leadership's response was severely insufficient.

While some argue that the "Hanahoe’s" lack of response was proof that they had faithfully internalized democratic education, it is hard to avoid the criticism that the lack of conviction and the cowardice of the Hanahoe generals in the face of President Kim Young-sam’s illegal purge order were the primary factors in damaging the military's identity, honor, and stature.

It is a regrettable phenomenon that the history of national security takes on a dual nature depending on interpretation, political forces, and support bases, rather than objective fact. The May 16 revolution that saved the nation has been disparaged as a cheap "coup," and the May 18 martial law troops, who were deployed under state orders, have been treated as "mass murderers."

This is also a consequence of the military’s failure to bring the truth to light. The military must precisely understand the concept of political neutrality and strive to build a mental framework to block attempts by politicians to shake the foundation of the military.

Three, we call for an objective and fair re-evaluation of security history.

The Republic of Korea cannot move toward the future if it denies the sacrifices and dedication of its past. Instead of viewing the anguish of the previous generation—who carried the mission of their era and made the decision to overcome national crises when survival was at stake—with understanding and respect, this anti-military behavior of disparaging them with a hostile perspective is an act of self-destruction that undermines the foundations of security.

Public and military sentiment has long condemned this distortion of security history that runs counter to the truth. We can no longer tolerate the malicious distortion and framing of security history by pro-North Korean, Juche-following forces who have been intent on erasing the Republic of Korea rather than dedicating themselves to it.

Objective establishment of security history by military research institutes and private historians is necessary. In these times, when the military is being persecuted, we look forward to the emergence of historians who view military history objectively.

True liberal democracy begins with the reflection that sees history clearly. Establishing national discipline, restoring the pride of a military crushed by labeling martial law as insurrection, and protecting genuine national security are urgent priorities. We will no longer remain silent in the face of the distorted logic of those who disparage the military.

Whenever the Republic of Korea was in crisis, the military has defended the nation with noble decisions and prevented total communization. This is why pro-North Korean, Juche-following groups are rushing to "close the KMA" within this year under the pretext of "integrating military academies." However, the KMA’s DNA of national protection and salvation will never die. In fact, it cannot die.

We are convinced that once the election fraud cartel is eradicated, the legislative atrocities of the pro-communist forces and the Democratic Party, the false framing of security history, and the forces pushing for the "closure of the KMA" will collapse simultaneously. By revealing that the foundation of the "server hackers" was "history hackers," we declare that we will accelerate the normalization of the Republic of Korea.

June 24, 2026

All members of the KMA National Salvation Comrades Association