Part 1 Yeonmu Park (1888-1894)
The first military academy in our country

1.
The emergence of modern military academies
The Aristocrats' and Technical Officers' Academy / The Abandonment of Aristocrats' Officers and the Emergence of Professional Officers / The Introduction of Military Academies in Korea, China, and Japan

2.
Yeonmu Park, Korea's first military academy
The opening of the country and the strengthening of military power / The establishment of the Byeolgi Army and the Im-o Incident: Attempts and frustrations of a modern army / The Gapsin Coup and the Treaty of Tianjin / Invitation of American military instructors / The opening of Yeonmu Park / A new path to becoming a military officer / Management difficulties and the closure of the school / Graduates of Yeonmu Park / Lee Hak-gyun, the 'father of the Korean Empire's Military Academy' / General Dai, a graduate of the US Military Academy

3.
Training Embassy Training Center and Geonyang Military Academy
The Gabo Reform and the introduction of a modern military system / The Central Army divided into training units and demonstration units / The Training and Embassy Training Institute / The dispatch of students to the Japanese Military Academy / The emergence of a new power, Russia, and the Eulmi Incident / The Konyang Military Academy

Part 2: Korean Empire Military Academy (1898-1909)
Producing independence movement leaders

1.
Establishment of the Korean Empire Military Academy
The birth of the Korean Empire / The National Military Academy desired by the Independence Association / Enactment and revision of the establishment law / 1,700 applicants for 200 positions / Instructors at the Korean Empire Military Academy / Educational goals and methods / Curriculum, departments, arts, and technology / Prohibition on discussion of political issues and formation of factions / Daily life and daily life / The first graduation ceremony personally attended by the Emperor / The second Military Academy graduates are commissioned and graduate

2.
Gwangmu Defense Reform
Seoul in 1900 / The strongest military force in the era of port opening / Establishment of the Marshal's Office / Creation of the Military Police, Army Court, and Military Band / Establishment of Korean-language chants / Korean-style rank titles / Uniforms and medal system

3.
Disbandment of the military and anti-Japanese armed struggle
Japan's decisive move, the provocation of the Russo-Japanese War / Japan's victory and the fate of the Korean Empire / Military reform, deception for military reduction / Disbandment of the army, start of the anti-Japanese armed struggle / Jinwidae uprising and conversion to volunteer army / Second disbandment of the army, mass dismissal of officers / Graduates of the Japanese Military Academy / No Baek-rin, from military cadet idol to Provisional Government's Military Affairs Chief / Lee Gap, pioneer of the independence movement / Yu Dong-yeol, Provisional Government's Chief of Staff

4.
Graduates of the Military Academy who dedicated themselves to the independence movement
Closure of the Korean Empire Military Academy / Graduates of the Korean Empire Military Academy and Independence Movement Leaders / Kim Hyuk, Leader of the New People's Party / Hwang Hak-su, From the Korean Empire National Army to the Korean Liberation Army / Shin Gyu-sik, Obtaining Approval of the Provisional Government from Sun Yat-sen.
/Jo Seong-hwan, Director of the Military Affairs Department of the Provisional Government /Shin Pal-gyun, Commander of the Tonguibu Volunteer Army /Lee Jang-nyeong, Chief of Staff of the Northern Military Government

5.
The Last Unarmed Cadets
Graduated from the Japanese Military Academy, commissioned as an officer in the Japanese Army / Ji Cheong-cheon, Commander-in-Chief of the Independence Army and the Korean Liberation Army / Jo Cheol-ho, Pioneer of the Korean Boy Scouts / Lee Jong-hyeok, Chairman of the Military Affairs Committee of the Council of State / Ma Chang-deok / Lee Eung-jun, First Chief of Staff of the Army of the Republic of Korea / Kim Seok-won, Japanese War Hero Turned into 'Old Soldier's Sorrow'

Part 3: Shinheung Military Academy (1911-1920)
Independence Army Talent Training Center

1.
Military academy founded by exiles
Promoting the establishment of an exile military academy / Samwonpo Shinheung Academy / Haniha Shinheung Military Academy / Trials and tribulations / With a single-minded determination to find the nation / Shinheung Scholars and the Shinheung Scholars' Journal / Sobaecha Baekseo Farm

2.
Training 3,500 independence fighters
Gosanja Shinheung Military Academy / Chinese oppression and internal turmoil / Kim Won-bong and his fellow Shinheung Military Academy students found the Uiyoldan / Heading for Mt. Baekdu / Shinheung Military Academy instructors / Kim Chang-hwan, the founding father of Shinheung Military Academy / Kim Gyeong-cheon, a man of great courage who dreamed of becoming Napoleon

3.
The Battle of Cheongsanri and graduates of the Shinheung Military Academy
Instructors and graduates of the Shinheung Military Academy who went to the Northern Military Government / Battle of Cheongsanri / Heroes of the Battle of Cheongsanri / Participation of Shinheung Military Academy's training unit in the Battle of Cheongsanri

4.
The Jayu City Massacre and the Manchurian Independence Army
The Manchurian Independence Army's movement to Jayu City / The Jayu City Massacre / The formation and disbandment of the Goryeo Revolutionary Army / Hong Beom-do, the 'General of the Joseon Army' / The 'Anti-Japanese Fighter Who Left an Invincible Legend' / Ji Cheong-cheon, the director of the Goryeo Revolutionary Army Military Academy, and his instructors

5.
The reorganization of the Manchurian Independence Army and graduates of the Shinheung Military Academy
The Chamuibu organized by Chae Chan, a graduate of the Shinheung Military Academy; the Justice Department and graduates of the Shinheung Military Academy; the Shinminbu and graduates of the Military Academy; and the Korean Independence Army's Battle of Daejeon Jaryeong.

6.
New members of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea and the Korean Liberation Army
New members of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea / New members of the Korean Liberation Army

7.
Stories Left Behind
The Patriot's Path of Suffering and Sacrifice / The Aftermath of the Six Lee Hoe-young Brothers / The Suffering of the Survivors / Kim San: From Nationalism to Anarchism, and Back to Communism

Part 4 Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea
Korea Military Academy (1920) and the Korean Liberation Army (1940-1946)

1.
Republic of Korea Provisional Government Army Military Academy
From Diplomacy to the War of Independence / The Provisional Government's Military Academy / The Second Graduation Ceremony / Training Military Talent through the Chinese Military Academy / Graduates of the Huangpu Military Academy / Korean Revolutionary Cadre School, Luoyang Military Academy Korean Special Class, Central Military Academy Seongja Branch

2.
Korean Liberation Army, Republic of Korea Provisional Government Armed Forces
Establishment of the Military Committee and dispatch of a special military delegation / Negotiations for the establishment of the Korean Liberation Army / Establishment of the Korean Liberation Army, successor to the Korean Empire's armed forces / Establishment of a command system and establishment of the Xi'an General Headquarters / Organization of districts and launch of recruitment activities / Incorporation of the Korean Volunteer Corps into the Korean Liberation Army / Joining of student soldiers who escaped from the Japanese Army / Kim Jun-yeop, 'the first student soldier to escape from the Japanese Army'

3.
Military cooperation with the Allied Forces
/Korea-British military cooperation, dispatch of theater operations forces to India and Myanmar / Activities and achievements of the Korean Liberation Army's operations force / Korea-US military cooperation, Operation Eagle / OSS training and formation of domestic advance forces / Korean Liberation Army advance force landed at Yeouido Airport

Part 5: Republic of Korea Military Academy (1946)
A military academy re-established after 37 years

1.
Liberation and return
The Return of Japanese Soldiers / Manchurian Soldiers Returning to South Korea / The Disbandment of the Korean Liberation Army and Their Belated Return / The Establishment and Dissolution of Private Military Organizations

2.
Military English School
Implementation of the US military government and establishment of the National Defense Command / Establishment of the Military English School / Creation and appointment of the National Defense Guard / Expansion of the National Defense Guard / Trials and challenges of the founding of the army / “Drive out the communists and yellow bastards!” / Produced 110 founding veterans / Merits and demerits of those from the military camp / “Advisors do not lead.
“I am only giving advice.” / The head of the military affairs department of the provisional government to the head of the US military government’s general affairs department / The commander-in-chief of the security forces, who was from the Korean Liberation Army

3.
Opening of the Korea Military Academy
A military academy rebuilt after 37 years / The 'last military cadets' of the Korean Empire / Graduates of the Korea Military Academy from the Shinheung Military Academy / Graduates of the Korea Military Academy from the Korean Liberation Army / Graduates of the Korea Military Academy from the Japanese Army / Graduates of the Korea Military Academy from the Manchurian Army / Graduates of the Korea Military Academy from the North Korean People's Army

4.
The founding of the army and war, school closures and reopenings
The Founding of the Military Academy and Graduates / War, School Closure, and Reopening / The Republic of Korea Protected by the Sacrifices of 1,600

5.
The Roots and Traditions of the Korea Military Academy
Has the lineage of the Korean Empire's Military Academy truly been severed? / Was the predecessor of the Korea Military Academy the Military English School? / Was the Guard Academy the predecessor of the Korea Military Academy? / Was the establishment of the four-year Korea Military Academy a new school or a re-establishment? / The founding spirit of the Korea Military Academy: patriotism and independence / The superintendents of the Korea Military Academy who came from the Korean Liberation Army / The roots and traditions of the Korea Military Academy

In closing
References
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Seven years from writing to completion: the life's work of philosopher Cho Seung-ok, a graduate of the Korea Military Academy.

『The Korea Military Academy, In Search of Its Historical Roots』 is a masterpiece written over a period of over seven years by philosopher Cho Seung-ok, the translator of 『Controversies in the Philosophy of Modern Science』 and author of 『Military Ethics』, based on testimonies from historical materials and memoirs from various fields.


After leaving the Korea Military Academy, where he had served for 42 years, the author set aside political and social positions and returned to his original mindset as a student, collecting and researching the history of the academy.
He focuses on revealing the connections between the Korea Military Academy and the figures active at home and abroad at the time by examining the international relations and domestic situations in accordance with the modern and contemporary history of our country and the history of changes in the military since the opening of the country.

Starting with Yeonmu Park (1888-1894), which can be said to be the origin of our country's military academies as a modern officer training institution, and up to the Republic of Korea Military Academy (1946), which was re-established 37 years after the Korean Military Academy was forcibly closed by the Japanese in 1909, this book meticulously studies the types of military academies according to the flow of history, the historical background of their establishment, the founding entities, the main contents and characteristics of the government system by period, and the actions of educators and graduates.

Unexpected Korean history hidden in the history of Korea's founding

Why now, to find the roots of the Korea Military Academy?
We, who have gathered under the name of the Republic of Korea, owe our breath and our homeland to the heroes, both great and small, who fell in the countless battles that fill Korean history. It cannot be denied that the military, diverse yet perhaps united in purpose, was the backbone of this effort.

Today, when the origin of a modernized military is the Army, and the place that produces Army officers is the Korea Military Academy, the question of what to consider the true roots and history of the Military Academy is not a problem of one group, but rather one that is closely linked to the task of establishing the identity and direction of the current generation.


The author's cry that, unlike a legacy that must be passed down to future generations, this is the minimum responsibility that our generation must fiercely grapple with and resolve is deeply embedded in every line.

Portraits of the cadets who died to save their country
Who will you abandon and who will you forget?

The turbulent history of Korea covered in this book includes familiar figures of merit, nameless soldiers, and compatriots who fought in fierce battles.
Under the fundamental principle of knowing oneself and knowing one's enemy, what should we reflect on and what should we fight against today?