“Scaling Back or Abolishing Military Service Exemptions”: Government and Ruling Party Coordinate; PPP Calls for Full Review of Existing Recipients
- Input
- 2026-10-07 14:34:13
- Updated
- 2026-10-07 14:34:13
At the audit that day, Defense Minister Kang Shin-cheol said, “The Ministry of National Defense’s goal is to gradually scale back military service exemptions and ultimately abolish them.” He also said of the conduct and remarks of some members of the national football team at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, which recently sparked controversy over exemptions in the arts and sports, “I felt deeply regretful about the disparagement of the sacred duty of national defense.”
Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi-young also said at the audit, regarding reform of the military service exemption system for arts and sports personnel, “I will gather opinions from the sports and arts communities and consult with the Ministry of National Defense and the Military Manpower Administration to devise comprehensive measures.” At the ministry’s audit that day, concerns were raised that benefits were concentrated in certain sports, with football and baseball players accounting for 36 of the 43 people eligible for military service benefits at this year’s Asian Games.
Political circles also decided to begin the process of revising the Military Service Exemption Act. Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok appeared that day on “Minti 07,” a YouTube program by “Democratic Party TV,” and addressed the recently debated issue of military service benefits for national team players in ball sports at the Asian Games. “Given that the times have changed and the country’s standing has changed, there is a question of whether we should substantially rework or adjust who qualifies for these benefits and how they are granted,” he said.
He added, “That concern seems valid, and several lawmakers have already introduced bills ranging from abolishing [the exemptions] to restricting eligible sports.” He said, “We tentatively agreed to leave it to lawmakers to conduct a broad review based on the premise that ‘adjustments would be advisable.’”
The opposition has also called for scrutiny of everyone who previously received an exemption. People Power Party floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik said on Facebook that, regarding the arts and sports military service exemption system embroiled in controversy in connection with the Asian Games, “Relevant agencies, including the Military Manpower Administration, need to review everyone who has received a military service exemption.”
Jeong said, “Discussion of whether to retain the exemptions is important, but it is also very important to closely examine whether the current system is being properly administered.”
He explained, “Under current law, arts and sports personnel must complete 544 hours of volunteer work (public service duty) while serving for 34 months, but there are many reports that even this volunteer work—equivalent to just 23 days—is not being properly carried out in practice because of document falsification and other reasons.”
People Power Party lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo wrote on Facebook that day, “We should consider abolishing the exemption privilege starting with this Asian Games,” adding, “President Lee Jae-myung only needs to make the decision. That’s because the ‘Asian Games gold-medal military exemption’ is stipulated by presidential decree, not by law.”
Earlier, after winning gold, national football team player Yang Min-hyeok said in an interview, “Medals or trophies aren’t important. I think I played with only the military exemption in mind.” After the match, Park Seung-soo posted on social media a photo of himself wearing a “discharge cap,” and captain Lee Gi-hyeok also said that thanks to this gold medal, he would not have to serve in the military.
[email protected] Kim Gyeong-su Reporter