Minister of National Defense Ahn Gyu-baek [Photo = Yonhap News]

The Ministry of National Defense abruptly postponed the briefing on the ‘Basic Plan for the Establishment of the Unified Military Academy (integrating the Army, Navy, and Air Force Academies),’ which was scheduled for the 6th, just about an hour before it was set to take place.

While the official reason for the postponement was stated to be Minister of National Defense Ahn Gyu-baek’s urgent attendance at a Blue House meeting and his overseas itinerary (including attending the NATO summit), the prevailing analysis is that the decision was made in response to fierce opposition from retired officer groups, including the Military Academy Alumni Association.

In fact, retired officers opposing the integration of the military academies have already scheduled a large-scale rally in front of the National Assembly on the 8th.

Amidst the ongoing backlash against the Ministry of National Defense's current push for defense reforms, such as the ‘integration of military academies’ and the ‘dissolution of the Defense Counterintelligence Command,’ a petition on the National Assembly’s public petition portal calling for the impeachment of Minister of National Defense Ahn Gyu-baek has garnered 300,000 signatures. Additionally, a petition opposing the integration of military academies has also surpassed 120,000 signatures.