Seoul: The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) on Thursday criticized President Lee Jae Myung for his comments suggesting that the Korea Military Academy was central to the country's past military coups. During a policy briefing by the defense ministry, Lee called for the swift integration of military academies, highlighting that graduates of the Army academy have been involved in all past military coups, and warned about the risk of another coup by Army elites.

According to Yonhap News Agency, PPP members expressed strong disapproval of Lee's remarks. Rep. Han Ki-ho stated that the president's comments were akin to labeling current and future cadets as a potential coup force. Yoon Sang-hyun, a five-term lawmaker, criticized Lee for using historical incidents to hold the military academy and its graduates accountable, arguing that it undermines the rule of law.

Yoon further questioned whether the proposed overhaul of the military academies was politically motivated retaliation against the Korea Military Academy, based on a few past incidents rather than efforts to strengthen joint operations. He expressed his concerns on Facebook, emphasizing the need for a focus on strengthening cooperation and fostering integrated military talents.

PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok echoed these concerns, describing Lee's comments as some of the "most outrageous remarks" ever made. During a meeting of the party's supreme council, Rep. Jang stated that while the president has spoken about enhancing cooperation, his ultimate message was that integrating military academies would reduce the possibility of coups. He challenged Lee's qualifications as the commander-in-chief.

The defense ministry has been pursuing the establishment of an integrated military academy by merging the academies of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. This initiative follows former President Yoon Suk Yeol's 2024 martial law declaration, which was botched and involved then Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, a Korea Military Academy graduate.