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People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok tries on an instructor cap handed to him at the Department of Military Training—where he once served as an instructor—during his visit to the Korea Air Force Academy in Sangdang-gu, Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, on the 7th. Jang, an alumnus of the 94th Officer Candidate School class, served at the academy from 1995 to 1998 before completing his military service as a first lieutenant. / Yonhap

People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok publicly rebelled against the government's push to integrate the Army, Naval, and Air Force academies on the 7th, launching an all-out effort to block the plan. Following a morning seminar at the National Assembly opposing the integration, he visited the Korea Air Force Academy—where he served as an instructor roughly 30 years ago—in the afternoon, declaring, "I will make sure to stop the merger and abolition of the military academies."

Speaking at the seminar titled "Alternatives to the Consolidation of Army, Naval, and Air Force Academies" held at the National Assembly, Jang criticized the move, saying, "The justification is merely rhetoric; the real objective is to weaken the armed forces, and I believe that objective is the collapse of national defense." He added, "They are trying to finish within President Lee Jae-myung's term something that should never be done, something that even 10 years would not be enough to accomplish."

Jang also took issue with the government's implementation process. "Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back did not even show his face at the public hearing," he said, adding, "A schedule for the second public hearing has not even been set, yet they insist on pushing forward with detailed plans in October as scheduled."

In the afternoon, Jang visited the Korea Air Force Academy in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, accompanied by lawmakers including Representative Lim Jong-deuk, the People Power Party's ranking member on the National Assembly National Defense Committee. This visit marked Jang's return to the academy after roughly 30 years, having served as an instructor in the Department of Military Training for three years beginning in 1995.

At the Department of Military Training building where he once worked, Jang recalled past memories while viewing photographs from his days as an instructor and video footage of the matriculation ceremonies of the cadets he trained. Academy officials presented him with a red instructor cap embroidered with the phrase "Commemorating Service 1995–1998" and a pilot bag bearing his name.

"I am delighted and deeply moved to visit the Korea Air Force Academy again after more than 30 years," Jang said, but added, "Given the current circumstances, I could not help but come with a heavy heart."

He stressed, "I cannot overstate how reckless the rushed discussions surrounding the consolidation of the service academies are, and what a grave threat this poses to the future of the Republic of Korea. I will take the lead and fight alongside everyone to ensure that South Korea's security and national defense stay on the right track."

Jang plans to visit the Korea Naval Academy in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, on the 11th to listen to concerns on the ground. With a visit to the Korea Military Academy also reportedly under consideration, his campaign opposing the academy merger is expected to expand across all three military branches.

                                                                                                             Lee Chae-ri