"Fundamental Solutions Needed to Restore the Vision of the Officer Profession"
Cadets are leaving each military academy, raising concerns about difficulties in securing junior officers.
According to data titled "Recruitment Competition Rates and Commissioning Status by Class for the Past Five Years at Military Academies," received by Yoo Yongwon, a member of the National Assembly Defense Committee from the People Power Party, from the Ministry of National Defense on December 21, this year’s graduating class at the Korea Military Academy saw 77 cadets drop out, accounting for 23.3% of the quota of 330.
Based on the year of commissioning, the number of dropouts was only 11 each in 2021 and 2022, when the quota was 310. However, with the quota increased to 330, the number rose to 27 in 2023 and 25 in 2024. Notably, the number of dropouts in this year's graduating class more than doubled compared to last year.
The Korea Army Academy at Yeongcheon, which has a quota of 550, also showed an increasing trend in dropouts by commissioning year: 11 in 2021, 45 in 2022, 30 in 2023, 38 in 2024, and 57 in 2025. Furthermore, the academy is currently conducting its admissions process for next year, but the competition rate is only 1.3 to 1, which is expected to be the lowest since its founding. The competition rate at the academy has typically remained between 4 to 6 to 1.
The situation is similar at the Korea Air Force Academy. For the classes commissioned in 2021 and 2022, when the quota was 205, 7 and 11 cadets dropped out, respectively. For the classes with a quota of 215 in 2023 and 2024, 13 and 22 cadets dropped out, respectively. For the class with a quota of 235 in 2025, 25 cadets dropped out.
Additionally, the 73rd class of the Air Force Academy, commissioned this year, had a competition rate of 22.9 to 1. Considering that the 72nd class, commissioned last year, had a competition rate of 48.7 to 1, the rate has nearly halved.
However, at the Korea Naval Academy, the number of dropouts remained relatively steady at around 10 per year during the same period.
Yoo Yongwon, a member of the National Assembly Defense Committee from the People Power Party. Yonhap News Agency
Assemblyman Yoo pointed out several issues: the relatively lower treatment of junior and mid-level military officers compared to enlisted personnel; inadequate compensation and service conditions relative to the level of responsibility and work intensity; and the declining social status and perception of the officer profession.
Assemblyman Yoo stated, "The decline in competition rates at military academies and the increase in voluntary withdrawals by cadets are not simply issues of educational institution management." He emphasized, "These trends are serious security concerns that could directly lead to both qualitative and quantitative deterioration of the future officer corps and a weakening of combat power." He added, "The Ministry of National Defense must thoroughly examine why cadets who have entered the academies are leaving midway, and how to restore the future and vision of the officer profession, and present fundamental solutions."
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