The agency unveiled the plan during a National Assembly audit, saying it would “strengthen the eligibility criteria in consideration of changes in South Korea’s national standing and fairness in military service.”
Under the proposed changes, artists competing in designated international competitions would have to finish first to qualify for the benefit, instead of the current standard that allows second-place finishers to qualify.
The government also plans to reduce the number of recipients from domestic traditional arts competitions by consolidating categories, cutting the number of eligible winners per competition from two or three to one.
The MMA said 86.6 percent of arts personnel designated over the past five years qualified through competitions held in South Korea, and said it would review the list of recognized international competitions to focus on more prestigious events.
“We will reorganize the competitions by taking into account their status, fairness of judging and competitiveness,” the agency said.
“We will gather expert opinions and consult relevant ministries to establish reasonable criteria,” it added.
The move comes amid broader scrutiny of South Korea’s arts and sports personnel system, which allows eligible artists and athletes to fulfill their military obligation through alternative service rather than standard active-duty service.
The MMA also said it would revise eligibility standards for athletes following controversy over remarks and actions by some South Korean players at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
The agency said it would “revise the eligibility criteria in consideration of social acceptance” and explore ways for arts and sports personnel to make greater public contributions by using their professional skills during their service period.
The MMA plans to revise the rules by December, with a related policy study due in mid-November.
It also plans tighter oversight of social service personnel, including stronger penalties for violations and an electronic attendance system.
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