Cadet Period at the Korea Military Academy (1962-1966)
The Korea Military Academy(KMA) is an officer training institution of the Republic of Korea. It began as the Military English School in December 1945 and was established in Taereung the following year to train officers for the South Korean Defense Guard, which was newly formed. Initially, military education was heavily influenced by the Japanese system, but it gradually shifted to an American model under the guidance of the U.S. Military Advisory Group.
In September 1948, the school’s name was changed to the Korea Military Academy. From 1949, the 10th class of the Academy began a two-year formal education program. However, in July 1950, during the Korean War, many of the cadets lost their lives on the battlefield and were commissioned as second lieutenants in Daejeon.
On June 1, 1950, 333 cadets began the first four-year regular cadet course. However, the Korean War broke out just 24 days after their entry, leading to many casualties when they were sent into combat. The Academy was temporarily closed, and cadets received training at the Army General School before being commissioned as short-term second lieutenants. Subsequently, the Academy reorganized its system in Jinhae, Gyeongsangnam-do, and in 1951, 200 cadets were admitted into the regular four-year course. The school was relocated back to Taereung in June 1954, and in October 1955, 156 cadets graduated with bachelor’s degrees as the 11th class and were commissioned as second lieutenants in the Army.
The Academy is divided into the Cadet Corps and the Faculty Department under the leadership of a Lieutenant General as the Superintendent, with each unit headed by a Brigadier General. The Faculty Department is composed of military officers or civilian scholars with qualifications similar to university professors. The curriculum was designed to be similar to that of the U.S. Military Academy to ensure that cadets possess the necessary academic competencies for a Bachelor of Science degree upon graduation.
Every morning, the cadets gather in the designated formation at the Cadet Corps Plaza to report their class attendance to the cadet officer on duty. Then, the Cadet Regiment marches in formation, organized by companies, towards the Faculty Department. Upon arrival, each cadet enters their assigned classroom to attend lessons.
The Cadet Corps is where cadets reside and conduct their military training, learning discipline and regulations. At that time, the Corps was divided into two battalions, each led by a Lieutenant Colonel. Each battalion was composed of four companies, with each company overseen by a Captain serving as the training officer. The total number of cadets was approximately 800, with about 200 cadets in each grade, housed in four two-story buildings.
The cadet dormitories were arranged in pairs facing each other across the Cadet Corps Plaza, with the clock tower in the center. The 1st Battalion was located on the left and the 2nd Battalion on the right. Each building was “U”-shaped, housing two companies, each with 100 cadets. Each company was composed of a mix of 25 cadets from each grade level.
Cadets at the Korea Military Academy primarily study military science to meet the standards required for performing duties as a battalion commander. In general education, they majored in science and engineering and received a Bachelor of Science degree. In physical education, they practiced a variety of martial arts, including Taekwondo, Kendo, Judo, and Hapkido. During the induction period, cadets underwent the Hwarang Basic Training, where they were trained to become soldiers and learned basic infantry skills. The summer military training lasted for six weeks each year: first- and second-year cadets focused on basic soldier training, squad tactics, and guerrilla warfare training; third- and fourth-year cadets received airborne training, platoon tactics, and advanced scientific combat training.
All costs related to food, clothing, shelter, and tuition for cadets are fully covered by the government, and they receive monthly stipends and allowances to maintain their dignity. Nowadays, cadets are also provided with personal laptops and necessary study materials. As the nation’s economy improved, cadets now go on a national tour each year: first-year cadets visit Ulleungdo and Dokdo, second-year cadets travel to Jeju Island and Marado, and third-year cadets visit Baengnyeongdo and Yeonpyeongdo. In addition, with support from the Army’s budget and the Academy’s development fund, cadets explore historical battle sites abroad.
Cadet uniforms are diverse, including dress uniforms, service uniforms, duty uniforms, combat uniforms, and athletic uniforms. Cadets engage in various cultural and physical activities, including academic, artistic, and sports-related fields.
At that time, I deeply felt the sacrifices and sufferings of soldiers and civilians due to the Korean War. With the mindset of “The fate of the nation rests on my shoulders,” I entered the Academy in February 1962. Many of my fellow cadets shared a similar mindset. Out of the 250 cadets who entered, 181 of us graduated as the 22nd class of the Academy in March 1966 and were commissioned as second lieutenants in the Army. Unfortunately, 69 cadets could not commission with us, mostly due to limitations in aptitude or physical strength.
Life in the Cadet Corps of the Korea Military Academy
Cadets received training to develop the right military spirit under the guidance of their company’s captain training officer, preparing them to become future military leaders. Company training officers frequently inspected cadets’ adherence to the rules, as specified in the cadet regulations, and assigned demerits when necessary. Inspections covered various aspects, such as whether bedding was neatly arranged, military boots were well-polished and shiny, clothing in the closet was organized according to regulations, personal weapons were well-maintained, and the cleanliness of the barracks was up to standard.
If cadets exceeded a certain number of demerits in a week, they were not allowed to leave the campus during the weekend. Depending on the severity of the demerits, they had to march with their rifles slung on their right shoulder for a set amount of time at the Hwarang Drill Field. The training officers constantly provided guidance to instill military values and emphasized the importance of character and leadership as future officers. Although individual maturity relies on self-awareness and personal development, the training officers’ constant emphasis on loyalty to the nation and people left a lasting impression in us.
(1) Cadet Corps Self-Governance System:
The Cadet Corps was organized following the structure of an infantry regiment, with cadet positions such as Regimental Commander, Regimental Staff Officers, Battalion Commanders and Battalion Staff Officers for the two battalions, as well as Company Commanders, Platoon Leaders, and Squad Leaders for the eight companies. All of these positions were filled by fourth-year cadets, who served in shifts four times a year. The training officer committee of the Cadet Corps selected the cadets for these positions, with the recommendations of company training officers playing a critical role in the appointment process. The self-governance system was intended to simulate the command and control system of the military, thereby enhancing the cadets’ leadership skills. I served as the 2nd Battalion Commander in the first duty shift, supervising each company to ensure compliance with the cadet regulations.
(2) Cadet Honor System:
Each of the eight companies in the Cadet Corps selected one fourth-year cadet to serve as an Honor Committee Member, forming the Cadet Corps Honor Committee. When a cadet observed another cadet committing acts such as “lying, stealing, or cheating,” they were obligated to report it to their company’s Honor Committee Member. If the reported behavior was found to be a violation, the Honor Committee Chairperson would immediately report it through the cadet chain of command. The Cadet Corps Disciplinary Committee would then decide on the violator’s dismissal, and the administrative order would be executed.
I experienced an incident during my second year as a cadet. A fellow cadet from my company and I both responded to a quiz in the Korea Times by mail. If selected, the winners would receive an invitation to a movie premiere. I submitted one entry, while he submitted five entries, making us curious to see the results. During a self-study period in the Faculty Department, this cadet left his seat and went to the library to check the newspaper, but he ran into an unfortunate encounter with a training officer who asked where he was going. To avoid receiving demerits, he lied, saying he was going to the Cadet Corps to get a book. After returning to the self-study room, he shared this incident humorously with his fellow cadets. However, another cadet in his class, who was in a competitive relationship with him, reported him to the Honor Committee for “lying.” Despite being an outstanding cadet, he was immediately dismissed, leaving a sense of emptiness among us for quite some time.
(3) No Room for Personal Connections or School Ties in the Cadet Corps
At that time, competition to enter the Korea Military Academy was extremely fierce, and many cadets came from prestigious high schools. In Seoul, schools like Kyunggi High School, Kyungbok High School, Seoul High School, and Yongsan High School each had about 20 successful candidates. In the provinces, approximately 20 cadets each came from Gwangju Jeil High School, Gwangju High School, Busan High School, and Gyeongbuk High School. Fewer than five students from other notable high schools were accepted, and some high schools only had one student admitted. While there might have been personal friendships between cadets from the same high school, no personal connections or school ties were tolerated, given the nature of military life, and no one paid attention to such affiliations.
I was three years older than the other cadets who entered right after high school, as I had a prior experience working as a teacher before entering the Academy. This made me feel a significant difference in terms of mental maturity compared to my younger peers. New cadets were assigned in groups of three per squad room, along with a fourth-year cadet squad leader. Cadet Kim Hyung-gak, the squad leader from Seoul High School, was considerate and kind. The squad room had four desks in the center and two bunk beds on each side of the walls. The squad leader occupied the lower bunk, while my bed was on the upper bunk. I had to be extremely cautious whenever I climbed up to avoid disturbing others.
(4) Excessive Interference from Upperclassmen
Obeying upperclassmen was an absolute rule in the Cadet Corps. Upperclassmen interfered in almost every aspect of cadet life, including uniform inspections, standing in line, walking posture, conduct in the dining hall, and cleanliness inspections. As a result, it was common for upperclassmen to find reasons to punish underclassmen during the evening relaxation time after dinner.
One year, during the rehearsal for Armed Forces Day at Yeouido, we practiced marching in formation. A second-year cadet, positioned in the same second row as I was, often failed to march in sync when we performed the “right shoulder arms” drill, leading to frequent disqualifications. That day, I resolved to speak up and shouted loudly, “Cadet X, please step forward.” At the time, it was unthinkable for a first-year cadet to speak in such a manner to a second-year cadet, given the atmosphere within the Cadet Corps.
After returning to the barracks following the rehearsal, I was ordered, “Cadet Kim, put two dumbbells in your backpack, wear your full combat gear, and wait at the upper-level shower room.” I strapped on a heavy backpack, hung my feet on the shower room’s wall pipe, clenched my fists on the ground, and lay facedown. I was instructed to maintain this posture, and if I collapsed, I had to resume it repeatedly. This harsh treatment continued brutally for about a month.
Life in the Academic Department of the KMA
The Academic Department at the Korea Military Academy aims to educate cadets to possess the right values, moral character, and expertise to develop into professional military officers who can dedicate themselves to the nation and the armed forces. When cadets attend academic classes, they are divided into two groups, Group A and Group B. Each group is further split into five classes based on grades for each subject. At the end of every class, there was a daily test, along with mid-term and final exams. If a cadet’s grade was insufficient in any subject, they had to take a supplementary exam at the end of the semester. Failure to pass this additional exam resulted in being dismissed due to poor academic performance. For cadets who did not study or could not keep up academically, the threat of failing the semester posed the greatest danger to their survival at the academy.
Summer Military Training and Front-line Practicum
- “The grass is greener on the other side”
The first-year cadets’ summer military training was a basic training to complete the fundamental skills of a soldier. The training was conducted in nearby hills. One hot day during a break, I took off my helmet and sat down on a patch of green grass to cool off. When I looked to the opposite side, the grass seemed lusher, so I moved over to that spot. After a short while, I looked back at where I was sitting before, and it appeared even greener than where I was now. From this experience, I learned the lesson, “The other side always looks better” and realized that, in life, it’s essential to make rational decisions in every situation. - Receiving a Telegram About My Father’s Death During Summer Training
During the third-year summer military training, I received a telegram at the Engineer School informing me of my father’s passing, and I was granted emergency leave to go home. My father, being the eldest son, served as a police officer after the liberation of Korea. However, due to several life-threatening situations he encountered during the Yeosu-Suncheon Rebellion, my grandfather advised him to quit the police force. Accepting this advice, he began helping out with farming. Before the liberation, he had freely traveled between Tokyo and China, and after working mainly outdoors as a police officer, he suddenly found himself confined to farming in a small village. This drastic change led him to drink frequently, causing liver issues that eventually led to his death. My grandparents were healthy, self-sufficient farmers, so there was no difficulty in providing for the family. Fortunately, my mother diligently raised the children. During this time, I was in the military, constantly worrying about my siblings’ education. - Corruption in Logistics Supply
During my fourth-year frontline practicum, I was assigned to a division where I witnessed corruption in the logistics supply process, which left me deeply disappointed. Whenever the division’s supply vehicle delivered rations, the drivers would distribute popular items such as meat and fish at each checkpoint, resulting in a significant shortfall of the intended quantity reaching the battalion’s mess hall. Furthermore, it was common for the mess hall cooks to secretly set aside meat to use for drinking parties later. Consequently, the meat broth served to the soldiers was mockingly called “Hwangwoo Dogang Soup” -a sarcastic term implying it was merely flavored water with no substance. However, when I visited a frontline unit led by one of my former students, now a regimental commander, during my visit to Korea in 2002, I was pleased to see that the food service had greatly improved. - Officers Responding to Floods and Landslides
During the same period of frontline practicum, heavy rain poured down, causing a flood, and a sudden landslide threatened to push the soldiers’ barracks off their foundation. At dawn, I quickly dug drainage channels with fellow soldiers to divert the water flow and used all our strength to prevent the landslide debris from burying the barracks. By morning, the officers should have inspected the damage to the unit and taken necessary measures, but some of the battalion’s officers, concerned about their own quarters, hurried back to check on their homes. From a cadet’s perspective, this behavior was deeply disappointing and lacked the military spirit I expected.
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