Kim Sun-ho, the acting Minister of National Defense, attended the graduation ceremony of the Korea Military Academy on the 27th. During his speech, he urged the graduating officers to “always think solely of the nation and its people and practice true loyalty and courage.”
At the event in Nowon-gu, Seoul, celebrating the 81st class’s graduation and commissioning, Kim emphasized the importance of “loyalty” as defined in the Constitution as loyalty to the state and its people, and “courage” as the ability to make the right choices and act on them even in difficult situations.
Kim further highlighted that the core existence of the military is explicitly defined by the Constitution and law, noting the constitutional mission to “defend the nation, protect the lives of its people, and safeguard liberal democracy.”
He also remarked, “Leaders are in the position of making decisions, and with decisions comes responsibility. I hope you grow into leaders who stand accountable for all outcomes.”
This advice seems to take into account the historical context of several officers from the academy being involved in events such as the ’12·3 Martial Law’ as key decision-makers or planners. According to a defense ministry official, “The acting minister took great care in preparing his speech, aiming to convey his beliefs on the fundamental nature of the military.”
On that day, 223 cadets of the 81st class graduated and were commissioned. The Presidential Honor was awarded to Second Lieutenant Kim Dong-il (22, infantry) for achieving top marks, and the Representative Valor Award went to Second Lieutenant Cheon Seong-ho (23, infantry).
Among the graduates, Second Lieutenant Hong Ji-min (24, personnel) is the great-granddaughter of Park Seung-hwan, a decorated hero in Korean independence history who opposed the disbandment of the Korean Imperial Army by the Japanese in 1907 and became a symbol for armed resistance and the national militia struggle by choosing to shoot himself instead. Hong expressed her commitment to carry on her great-grandfather’s noble spirit by dedicating herself to the nation and its people.
The newly commissioned officers are scheduled to receive training in the new officer leadership and staff course at various military schools until June, after which they will be assigned to field units.