The debate over whether winning gold medals at the Asian Games serves as a means to gain military exemptions has reignited. Following the South Korean men's soccer team's fourth consecutive victory at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, some players faced criticism for comments and actions emphasizing military benefits immediately after their win. Lawmakers are now calling for a review of the artist and athlete exemption system, which was introduced in 1973.
The upcoming National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee's audit, starting on October 7, is expected to address the athlete exemption issue. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism holds the authority to recommend athletes for exemption.
◆ Controversial 'Military Exemption' Comments After VictoryUnder the guidance of coach Lee Min-seong, the U-23 soccer team defeated host nation Japan 1-0 in the final held at Toyota Stadium in Aichi on October 3. With Um Ji-sung scoring the decisive goal, South Korea secured its fourth consecutive gold medal since the 2014 Incheon Games, bringing its total number of victories to a record seven.
The controversy arose from comments made by players immediately after the final. Team captain Lee Gi-hyeok stated in a broadcast interview, "If we hadn't won the gold medal, I would have had to enlist in the military in nine days. This tournament was particularly important for military exemption for the players, especially for me, as it was so close to reality. I was desperate and relieved to lighten that burden." He also raised the gold medal while exclaiming, "I’m not going to the military!"
Yang Min-hyeok took it a step further, telling reporters, "I thought medals and trophies weren't important. I think I played just for the military exemption benefits." The youngest member of the team, Park Seung-soo, posted a selfie wearing a military cap in the locker room, which sparked further backlash as it was shared widely. The photo was later deleted.
In response to the growing criticism, the three players issued apologies on October 4, both at the airport upon their return and on social media. Lee Gi-hyeok acknowledged, "As the captain, I should have considered the weight of my words. I did not take the duty of national defense lightly." Yang Min-hyeok and Park Seung-soo also posted apologies, and the Korea Football Association issued an official apology the same day.
Yoo Seung-min, president of the Korean Sports Council, commented during a press conference at the Korea House in Nagoya, "We provided extensive training on interview skills, but it is difficult to control every athlete's statements. Some comments may not align with public sentiment. We will seek ways for national team athletes to express themselves with dignity."
◆ Political Response: 'System Needs Reform' Amid Audit ScrutinyThe issue has caught the attention of lawmakers. An Cheol-soo, a member of the People Power Party, expressed on social media, "Is the military a place of hatred? Are all the young men enlisting every year just fools? It is disheartening to see the mindset of athletes wearing the Taegeuk mark at this level." He added, "We need to reconsider military exemptions for the Asian Games."
Na Kyung-won, also from the People Power Party, stated, "The problem lies not with the athletes but with the outdated system. We need to redefine the events and sports eligible for exemptions to match our current national status. We should consider a system that reflects cumulative performance in international competitions rather than a single victory."
Jung Il-young of the Democratic Party emphasized, "Winning a gold medal at the Asian Games is a significant achievement deserving of applause, but celebrating the medal and military exemptions are separate issues. Standards must evolve with the times."
The artist and athlete exemption system was established in 1973 to provide military alternatives for individuals who have contributed to national prestige through international competition. In sports, athletes who place in the top three at the Olympics or win gold at the Asian Games are eligible. Those who qualify as athletes must complete basic military training and serve 34 months in their sport while fulfilling 544 hours of public service, allowing them to continue their athletic careers without active military service, commonly referred to as "military exemption."
The legal basis for this system falls under the Military Service Act, overseen by the National Assembly's Defense Committee. However, the authority to recommend athletes for exemption and oversee their service lies with the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism. To become a sportsman, an Asian Games gold medalist must receive a recommendation from the Ministry, which also monitors the fulfillment of public service obligations.
Calls for reform have also emerged from the Culture Committee. Jeong Yeon-wook of the People Power Party remarked, "If there were actions that raised suspicion, they must face criticism, and the athletes' apologies reflect that. While we accept their apologies, national representatives should have been more cautious in their words and actions." He added, "The responsibility to reform the system lies with politics, and we will take it seriously."
One member of the Culture Committee is also reviewing questions for the audit. A staff member from that office indicated on October 5 that the audit will include inquiries related to the athlete exemption system.
The Culture Committee will begin its audit on October 7, starting with the Ministry of Culture. Institutions in the sports sector, including the Korea Sports Council and the Seoul Olympic Sports Promotion Foundation, will be audited on October 21. A comprehensive audit of the Ministry and its affiliated agencies will take place on October 23.
◆ Military Exemptions: A Recurring Topic in AuditsThe athlete exemption issue has been a recurring topic in past audits. In October 2018, the Culture Committee's audit featured Sun Dong-yeol, then the baseball team coach, as a witness, marking the first time a current national team coach appeared as a witness. This was due to controversies over the selection of players who had not completed their military service, such as Oh Ji-hwan and Park Hae-min, for the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games.
In the same month, allegations of document forgery related to volunteer activities emerged during the Defense Committee's audit of the Military Manpower Administration. At that time, then-Representative Ha Tae-kyung pointed out that the documentation for a soccer player who became a sportsman due to a gold medal at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games was false, and the player, Jang Hyun-soo, eventually admitted to inflating his achievements. The Korea Football Association subsequently imposed a lifetime ban on Jang Hyun-soo from national team eligibility in November of that year.
In 2023, the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games became a controversial stage, with 20 out of 22 players on the gold medal-winning soccer team and 19 out of 24 players on the baseball team receiving military benefits. During the October audit of the Military Manpower Administration, then-Representative Lim Byeong-heon criticized, "Is the Asian Games being used as a means for military benefits?"
Last year, the artist exemption system was also scrutinized during the Culture Committee's audit. Representative Jo Eun-hee pointed out that 88% of artist exemptions in the past five years were granted based on domestic competition results, with over 80% of participants being Korean, labeling it a "mere facade of international competition."
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young stated at that time, "If this is true, it is a serious situation. We will conduct a comprehensive investigation into the competitions that qualify for artist exemptions. It is essential that awards are given in competitions that the general public can perceive as fair and credible; providing benefits in situations that raise suspicion is a significant issue."
Following this, the Ministry began reviewing plans to reduce the number of qualifying competitions for artist exemptions from 35 to 20 and to limit the special exemptions from second place to first place.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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