"Fundamental Solutions Needed to Restore the Vision of the Officer Profession"
Cadets are leaving each military academy, raising concerns about difficulties in securing enough junior officers.
According to data titled "Admission 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 total quota of 330 cadets.
Based on commissioning year, the number of dropouts was only 11 in both 2021 and 2022, when the quota was 310. However, as the quota increased to 330, the number rose to 27 in 2023 and 25 in 2024. Notably, for this year’s class, the number of dropouts more than doubled compared to last year.
The Korea Army Academy at Yeongcheon, with 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. Additionally, the academy is currently conducting its admission 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 had previously remained between 4 to 6 to 1.
The situation is similar at the Air Force Academy. In the classes of 2021 and 2022, when the quota was 205, there were 7 and 11 dropouts, respectively. With the quota increased to 215, there were 13 and 22 dropouts in 2023 and 2024, and with the quota at 235 for the 2025 class, 25 cadets dropped out.
Furthermore, the 73rd graduating 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 been cut in half.
However, at the Naval Academy, the number of dropouts remained relatively stable 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 compensation structure for junior and mid-level officers has become relatively lower compared to enlisted personnel; the rewards and service conditions are insufficient relative to the level of responsibility and work intensity; and the social status and perception of officers as a profession have declined.
Yoo stated, "The decline in academy competition rates and the increase in voluntary withdrawals by cadets are not just issues of educational institution management." He emphasized, "These trends could directly lead to both qualitative and quantitative deterioration of the future officer corps and a weakening of combat capability, which are serious security concerns." He added, "The Ministry of National Defense must thoroughly examine why cadets are leaving the academies before graduation and how to restore the future and vision of the officer profession, and present fundamental solutions."
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