A Study on the Transition of Training Program in Korea Military Academy(KMA) : Focusing on the Professionalization of Samuel P. Huntington

This study firstly identified the key subjects and contents of education of the Korea Military Academy(KMA) from 1946 to the present and analyzed by applying the elements of Samuel P. Huntington's military professionalization. The training process for cadets of the KMA can be divided into four periods. First, the introduction period of professionalization(1946-1950) continued its efforts to train elite officers as a regular Military Academy despite poor conditions for professionalization. However, due to the outbreak of the Korean War, these efforts were stopped and did not bear fruit. Second, the beginning of professionalization(1951-1960) was the first step toward professionalization when the regular four-year Military Academy was reopened during the Korean War. Although it began by imitating the system of the U.S. Military Academy(USMA), an educational system for military schools with military expertise as a beginner commander and national guardianship began to be established. Third, in the period of professionalization development(1961-1980), due to North Korea's frequent armed provocations and participation in the Vietnam War, graduates of the military history had the opportunity to participate in the war, and their experience factors were reflected in the military history curriculum. The spirit of sacrifice and patriotism shown by the graduates of the KMA served as an example for the cadets to establish a view of the state and life. Fourth, in the period of settlement(1981-present), various educational programs were implemented to establish new education courses to keep pace with the rapidly changing security environment, internationalization, and information age. As such, it can be seen that the training process of the KMA has gradually changed from simply training officers to systematic education for professionalization. Based on the results of future research, it will be possible to more clearly see the impact of each military academy's education on professionalization by comparing and analyzing the training education system of Naval and Air Force academies.