Kang Shin-cheol said on 2026-03-03 that the transfer of operational command authority will be pursued in a direction that strengthens the US-Korea alliance. ^[1] Kang Shin-cheol, the nominee for Minister of National Defense, stated on 2026-03-03 that he will ensure the training of excellent talent in response to questions about the integration of the Army, Navy, and Air Force officer academies. ^[2] Kang Shin-cheol, a candidate for South Korea's defense minister, stated that South Korea's military academies will remain a national institution regardless of how the government's integration plan changes. ^[3] Kang Shin-cheol avoided giving a specific answer when asked if the plan to integrate the three military academies might be withdrawn or rolled back. ^[4] Lee Jae-myung's administration is pursuing a policy to transfer operational command authority within the current term of office. ^[5] Kang Shin-cheol acknowledged on 2026-06-03 that there are various opinions and concerns regarding the government's push to integrate the military academies. ^[6] Kang Shin-cheol stated that the opposition party's claim to withdraw the military academy integration plan is unfounded, asserting that the academies have always been and will always be South Korea's. ^[7] Kang Shin-cheol stated that the transition of operational control authority is possible only because of the existence of the US-Korea alliance. ^[8]