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`May 1,1996, marks the 500th anniversary of the founding of the Korea Military Academy, Dedicated to the educational ideals of humanism, liberal democracy, and professinalism, it has produced hightly-trained military officers, who have served as the bulwark of security in Korea. The Korea Military Academy was established as the ``National Dfense and Constabulary Academy`` on May 1, 1946, at Taenung. It changed its name to its persent title when the Korean Armed Forces were created in 1948. Initially, the academy placed an emphasis on offering short-term courses of instruction to build up a cadre of military officers. When the very existence of the country was threatened by the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, its cadets voluntarily joined the army to fight in the war and the academy had to close its doors temporily. As the need for cultivating highly-skilled and trained officers was keenly felt via the war, the Korea Military Academy was reorganized to offer a four-year college-type curriculum when it reopened in Chinhae, South Kyongsang province on October 30, 1951. Coupled with this, the proclamation of Act for the Establishment of the Military Academy on October 1, 1955, promoted the academy to instruct and train the cadet corps in both the arts of war and peace so that all grauates would possess the qualities and attributes essential to continued development during a lifetime career as officers in the armed forces. On the occasion of its 50th anniversary, the Korea Military Academy is pushing ahead with a variety of commemorative events including the opening of academy`s memorial hall, the holding of a commemorative academic seminar, and the Korea Military Academy to review its past and traditions and to find out its furture course of action. The Ministry of Information and Communication is issuing a new commemorative stamp featuring ``the Motto of the Korea Military Academy (Intellect, Benevolednce, and Valor) and its Cadets`` in honor of the 50th anniversary of its fonding with the hope that its status would be reinforced and it will continue to development to meet the multi-faceted challenges in store in the upcoming 21st century.`