President Lee Jae-myung attended the joint commissioning ceremony of the Army, Navy and Air Force academies at Gyeryongdae on the 20th and said, "Let us thoroughly reflect on and sever the military's past wrongdoings, and be reborn as a people's military that looks only to the people, the sovereign." It was the first time in nine years since 2017 that a joint commissioning ceremony for the Army, Navy and Air Force academies was held.
At the commissioning ceremony that day, Lee said in his congratulatory remarks, "Let us completely clear away the remnants of illegal martial law and build the Republic of Korea Armed Forces that are faithful to their original duties and roles." He added, "Our government will further strengthen the democratic and institutional foundations to rebuild the armed forces as the people's military that protects constitutional values and the people."
He also repeatedly stressed the transition of wartime operational control. Lee said, "Even though the Republic of Korea now has sufficient strength to defend itself, some are still trapped in a dependent mindset that says independent defense is impossible," adding, "Based on pride in our defense capabilities, when we regain wartime operational control and, on the strength of overwhelming military power, Korea leads the combined defense posture with the United States, a true era of independent defense will open."
He also mentioned the importance of "advanced weapons systems." Lee said the security reality is grave in an international order threatened by the "logic of force," adding, "We must understand global affairs and always remain alert so as not to become complacent in a time of peace and fail to prepare for the future." In particular, he said, "Cyberwarfare and electromagnetic warfare are being introduced, drones and other unmanned devices are being deployed, and new weapons systems are being operated," adding, "Let us build our armed forces into a 'smart, elite, strong military' that always wins."