Rep. Kim Byung-joo of the Democratic Party of Korea [Photo=Yonhap News]

“The Air Force Academy doesn't teach you how to fly a plane!” 

“The Army, Navy, and Air Force academies are exactly the same as regular university curricula!”

These are remarks made by Representative Kim Byung-joo during a recent broadcast appearance.

The government and the ruling party have proposed the idea of dismantling the “pillars of national defense” and merging the military academies into one. What is the true nature of those who speak so arrogantly about military identity, their consciences apparently paralyzed? I find myself pondering this, uneasy at the very thought.

Are military academies merely ordinary institutions for obtaining a degree? Such false claims—made by a former general—that “the Army, Navy, and Air Force academies are exactly the same as regular university curricula” go beyond being tragic; they evoke a sense of helplessness and fury.

Military academies were never meant to be places just to earn academic credits. They were sanctuaries where we took an oath to be the first to sacrifice our lives as a bulwark in times of national crisis, and where we not only accumulated foundational military knowledge but also engraved the spirit of the soldier and the ethos of the warrior into our hearts.

It was there that we learned the courage not to hesitate in front of the enemy’s muzzle, and the solemn moral responsibilities that come with military service.

Looking back, at the tender age of 20, we voluntarily surrendered our freedom and lived a life of 24-hour constant vigilance. If, in such a state, we had been subjected to a “mixed-bag” education that threw everything together in the name of future warfare, we would have been too distracted and confused to endure for long.

Demanding that cadets possess the sophisticated joint interoperability required for future warfare—which should be the task of the Joint Chiefs of Staff—is as foolish as looking for fish in a tree.

Because I underwent four years of cadet life, mastering self-denial, pride, deep introspection, and a discipline that surpassed physical limits, I am still able to endure intense pain and focus on my writing today. Humans grow to the extent that they practice shindok (acting with integrity when alone) and engage in grueling self-cultivation in solitude.

The laws of nature cannot be defied. Drinking the same water, a venomous snake produces venom, while a cow produces milk. This is a topic that touches upon the importance of innate nature. Even among those who graduated from the same military academy, if their spirits differ, some will lead the charge in closing down their alma mater. I can easily guess what kind of cadet life those who advocate for such closures led.

A venomous snake acts according to its nature, producing venom to protect itself, while a cow in the meadow silently chews grass to produce milk that sustains life. In the same way, the reason for each being’s existence stems from its essence and roots.

The reason the Army, Navy, and Air Force wear different uniforms and guard the blue seas, the rugged earth, and the vast skies is because of the unique history and tradition of each branch, and the unparalleled “essence” forged within them.

To ignore this and attempt to crush the unique military education and identity of each branch into a single melting pot is as ignorant and dangerous an idea, contrary to natural order, as forcing a snake and a cow to jointly produce milk and venom.

Just because the nature of warfare changes and advanced technology is introduced, does that mean we can erase the soul and identity of the soldier? The mettle required of commanders and soldiers is not something automatically granted by the advent of cutting-edge weapons. It is the product of a history of defense bought with blood and military traditions forged through tears and hard-won experience.

It is an act of betrayal against the foundation of our military for those who do not understand the military spirit to discuss national defense, disparage the true meaning of military academies, and shake the roots of the armed forces under the pretext of integration. I can no longer stand idly by.

The essence of a military that defends the nation is not to be a tool of gentle harmony, but to be a sharp sword that subdues enemies on the brutal battlefield, having mastered the non-democratic practice of unconditional obedience to preserve our democracy.

Just as a cow dedicates itself by providing milk, the Army, Navy, and Air Force academies must each cultivate sturdy warrior spirit and a sense of sacrifice within their own respective pride and traditions.

I issue a warning to those who, forgetting the essence of the military, military principles, and the duties of a soldier, demand such misguided integration.

Stop this arrogant experiment immediately, which dismantles the legitimacy of the military and destroys its spirit.

◆ Commissioner Park Pil-gyu

Editorial Writer, Hanmi Ilbo

Korea Military Academy, 40th Class