[Opinion] Three Bans at Korean Military Academy

There is a question asking what three bans are, among frequently asked questions on the homepage of the Korean Military Academy. The fact that the so-called “three ban rule” appears on the FAQ page indicates how much interest it arouses from prospective cadets. The answer is as follows: “The three ban rule is a long-held tradition of the KMA, which dates back to 1951. The rule includes no-alcohol, no-smoking and no-marriage, which intend to help instill cadets with integrity, moderation and temperance.”

The year 1951, a year after the Korean War broke out, saw the present-day Korea Military Academy set up as a four-year undergraduate military institution, replacing the old “Joseon Guard Academy” established in 1947. It was also the year when the 11th class of the Korean Military Academy, including former Korean Presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo were admitted. The 11th class took pride in belonging to the academy so much that they called themselves “the genuine first class of the Korean Military Academy.” It’s interesting that the three ban tradition began around that time. If cadets are caught violating the rule, they are immediately dismissed from the academy. Though both the Korean Naval Academy and the Korean Air Force Academy have similar prohibitions, they are less strict than the Korean Military Academy. Cadets in their fourth year at the two academies are allowed to engage from the second semester.

Recently, the National Human Rights Commission asked military authorities to permit cadets to marry during vacations, saying the three ban rule violates the rights of cadets to pursue their honor and happiness, and infringes their privacy and freedom. In fact, the tradition has often sparked controversy since it frequently conflicts with realities. In particular, the provision mandating cadets to report violators to school authorities “according to their conscience” heavily weighs on them psychologically. It seems that the provision emulates “Cadet Honor Code” of the United States Military Academy, also known as West Point, which says, “Cadets shall not lie, deceive others…, or tolerate fellow cadets’ violations.” But it sounds awkward since it is applied to drinking and smoking.

But it is not likely that the commission’s recommendation would lead to any immediate changes in the rule. When a series of unfavorable accidents involving intoxicated cadets happened in 2003, the academy came up with some measures, including opening an in-campus beer bar, only to fail to be implemented in the face of opposition from Korean Military Academy elders. However, many expect the Korean Military Academy to make a bold move and break away from decade-old outdated traditions in the near future, as it did when it admitted female cadets in 1998.

Editorial Writer Kim Chang-hyeok (chang@donga.com)