Yang Seung-jo, Governor of Chungnam Province, "Nonsan, Chungnam is the Best Location for the Relocation of the Military Academy"

On the 1st, at the Kensington Hotel Yeouido, Chungnam Governor Yang Seung-jo is appealing the necessity of attracting the Korea Military Academy to Nonsan during the policy discussion for the attraction of the Military Academy to Chungnam Nonsan. Provided by Chungnam Province

[Asia Economy (Hongseong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] “Considering the three conditions for the relocation of the Korea Military Academy (KMA) are national balanced development, linkage with defense education, and the possibility of successful relocation, Nonsan is regarded as the optimal site for the KMA relocation.”

Chungnam Governor Yang Seung-jo made this statement on the 1st at the policy forum held at the Kensington Hotel Yeouido titled ‘Policy Forum for Attracting the KMA to Nonsan, Chungnam.’

According to the province, the forum was hosted by Kim Jong-min, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (representing Nonsan, Gyeryong, Geumsan), and the Chungnam KMA Attraction Promotion Committee, and organized by Chungnam Province and Nonsan City.

The forum, held under the theme ‘Innovative Measures for Officer Training System to Complete Defense Reform,’ was arranged to share the necessity of relocating the KMA to Nonsan for strengthening its functions and regional balanced development, and to analyze and share the synergy effects expected from the relocation.

The forum featured a keynote presentation titled ‘Strengthening the Functions of the Korea Military Academy in Preparation for Future Battlefields’ by Research Fellow Lee Gwan-ryul of the Chungnam Research Institute, followed by a comprehensive discussion.

The comprehensive discussion was chaired by Professor Jin Jong-heon of Kongju National University, with participation from Chungnam Provincial Council member Kim Hyung-do, Professor Noh Young-gu of the Korea National Defense University, Editorial Writer Kim Min-seok of JoongAng Ilbo, Professor Lee Jong-ho of Konyang University, and Chairman Lee Sang-seon of the Chungnam Citizens Foundation, who shared their opinions.

At the event, Chairman Lee Sang-seon stated, “The relocation of the KMA to Nonsan is a corrective measure for the relative disadvantage Chungnam has suffered due to the construction of Sejong New City, and should be accepted as a preemptive task from the perspective of Season 1.5 before the realization of Innovation City Season 2.” He added, “Chungnam should seek strategies to respond as a joint cooperation task for the Chungcheong region by activating organizational movement systems within the region and agenda-setting through the Chungcheong region public-private-government council.”

Professor Lee Jong-ho of Konyang University advised, “Since large-scale investments are expected to stimulate the defense industry centered on Nonsan, an empirical plan demonstrating that the world’s best defense education environment can be established when the KMA relocates to Nonsan should be presented.”

Additionally, Professor Noh Young-gu of the Korea National Defense University emphasized, “It is very important whether the planned relocation area is establishing a comprehensive plan for Korea’s future defense development.” He proposed, “Rather than limiting to the KMA relocation, simultaneous relocation of various defense and military education institutions and related companies should be combined to promote development into a large-scale comprehensive education and research city.”

The province plans to use the policy forum as a stepping stone to take full-scale action to attract the KMA to Nonsan.

Governor Yang said, “Nonsan hosts the Army Training Center, the Korea National Defense University, and the Defense Industrial Complex, and nearby Gyeryong City houses about 30 defense-related industry-academia-research institutions including the Headquarters of the Armed Forces, the Agency for Defense Development, and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute.” He emphasized, “If the KMA relocates to Nonsan, these defense education conditions and the metropolitan transportation infrastructure will be combined to maximize synergy effects.”

He added, “The policy forum will be the first step to explain to the government and the public the necessity of relocating the KMA to Nonsan and to convey the expected synergy effects of the relocation. Starting with this forum, the province will intensify efforts to attract the KMA to Nonsan so that Nonsan can be reborn as the defense capital.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.