"Even BTS served in the military": Will the Asian Games military-service exemption be scrapped after 53 years? Ruling and opposition parties speak with one voice for once

[Financial News] The fallout from controversy over military-service exemptions for South Korea's men's national soccer team, which won the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, has raised the possibility that discussions on overhauling the 53-year-old special military-service exemption system for the arts and sports could begin in earnest.
On the 5th, lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties agreed that the military-service exemption system needs to be reassessed. Kim Byung-joo, a Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker and former four-star Army general, wrote on social media that day, "The ruling and opposition parties have long shared the view that military-service exemptions should be gradually reduced, and a gradual overhaul that scales back the eligible groups and criteria in stages is a realistic solution."
Kim, the ruling-party secretary of the National Assembly's National Defense Committee, said, "South Korea has now joined the ranks of advanced nations, and every young person is bringing honor to the country in their respective field and profession. BTS also fulfilled its duty of national defense." He added, "Military-service exemptions must no longer be treated as rewards granted based on medals or achievements."
Min Hong-chul, a Democratic Party lawmaker and former Army legal affairs officer who held the rank of brigadier general, also wrote on social media that day, "Seeing athletes say in victory interviews that they would not have to serve in the military because of the military-service exemption system has been deeply disappointing." He added, "It is now time to abolish or drastically reduce the military-service exemption system granted to athletes and entertainers."
Min said, "As the number of young people available for mandatory military service continues to decline because of the low birth rate, every young person is bringing honor to the country from their respective position." He added, "The criteria and fairness of granting military-service exemptions to Olympic gold medalists, Asian Games champions and winners of various international competitions are ambiguous."
The opposition party also raised the issue. Park Sung-hoon, chief spokesperson for the People Power Party, said, "The moment a national team's victory is flaunted as if it were a ticket to avoid military service, it diminishes the honor of the gold medal and the significance of representing the national flag." He added, "The honor gained by representing South Korea must not be turned into an individual's success story about escaping military service."
Park said, "If an exemption cannot be accepted by young people who quietly fulfill their military obligations, it is difficult to continue justifying it with the phrase 'bringing honor to the country.'" He added, "We must reassess, without sacred cows, whether the current arts and sports personnel system is in line with the times and the common sense of the public." The proposal calls for redesigning the criteria by comprehensively considering the level of competition in each sport and its international standing, while also strengthening service obligations and public responsibility.
The controversy erupted after some members of South Korea's men's national soccer team, which won the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, made inappropriate remarks and engaged in inappropriate conduct regarding military-service exemptions. Yang Min-hyeok of Westerlo apologized after saying, "It wasn't about whether it was a medal or a trophy. I played the match solely because military-service exemption was the reward." Park Seung-soo of Newcastle United, born in 2007 and the youngest member of the team, also came under widespread criticism after posting a photo of himself celebrating while wearing a military discharge cap on social media.
[email protected] Kim Hee-sun Reporter