Opposition party moves to scrap ‘automatic’ military-service exemptions for Asian Games gold medalists

[Financial News] A bill to end the automatic military-service exemption granted for winning an Asian Games gold medal was introduced in the National Assembly on the 7th. The move is follow-up legislation prompted by controversy over military-service benefits, centered on the baseball and football teams, at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
According to sources in political circles on the 7th, 10 lawmakers, including Joo Ho-young of the People Power Party, filed a bill the previous day to abolish the blanket criteria for assigning first-place finishers at the Asian Games as arts and sports personnel. The current Military Service Act allows people with special talents in the arts or sports who meet requirements set by presidential decree to be assigned as arts and sports personnel. Under the law, those who place third or higher at the Olympics and those who place first at the Asian Games are eligible. The bill’s main provision is to eliminate the automatic assignment criteria for Asian Games first-place finishers.
However, the current criteria for Olympic finishers placing third or higher would remain in place. The bill would also allow people recognized as having made exceptional contributions, such as significantly raising South Korea’s standing in the arts or sports, to be assigned as arts and sports personnel following a recommendation by the National Assembly and a resolution by the Cabinet. The aim is to determine eligibility for military-service benefits based on actual contributions rather than the blanket criterion of winning a gold medal.
The bill also raised the issue of fairness between world-renowned pop culture artists, who are excluded from the current system, and athletes. It cited as a reason for reform the fact that pop culture artists who are credited with significantly raising South Korea’s standing and contributing to the national interest must still fulfill their military-service obligations under the current system.
The bill directly targets the controversy over military-service benefits that arose at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. The baseball team lost 5-0 in the Super Round to Japan, whose roster was made up mainly of amateur rather than professional players, before beating Japan in the final to win gold. Remarks by some players during the tournament prompted criticism that military-service benefits were being prioritized over the games themselves or the honor of representing the national team. Men’s football also sparked controversy after some players made statements and took actions that directly emphasized military-service benefits following their gold-medal win. The Korea Football Association eventually issued an official apology.
Joo and the other lawmakers said in their explanation of the bill: “Military service is one of the most fundamental and weighty obligations imposed on citizens of the Republic of Korea. Accordingly, exceptions should be granted only to a minimal extent, under strict and fair criteria that the public can fully accept.”

[email protected] Song Ji-won Reporter