Military manpower agency chief voices regret over Asian Games footballers' gloating about military exemption

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SEOUL, Oct. 12 (Yonhap) -- The head of South Korea's military manpower agency voiced regret Monday over South Korean footballers glorying in their exemption from mandatory military service following their win at the recent Asian Games.

Military Manpower Administration (MMA) Commissioner Hong So-young made the remarks during a parliamentary audit, after some of the gold medalists gloated about their exemptions in media interviews and on social media, sparking strong public backlash and reigniting calls for policy overhaul.

"I deeply regret this unfortunate situation," Hong said. "I take heavily to heart the sense of loss felt by young men serving their military duties, as well as the public's calls for reform."

Military Manpower Administration Commissioner Hong So-young speaks during a policy briefing to the president at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, in this Aug. 5, 2026, file photo. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

After clinching the gold medal in men's football at the Asian Games on Oct. 3, Yang Min-hyeok, one of the players on the national team, told media he played the match to earn the exemption rather than winning a medal or trophy.

Park Seung-soo, another member on the team, uploaded a photo of himself wearing a cap typically worn by men who have completed their military service.

Their actions have sparked widespread public outrage.

All able-bodied men in South Korea are required to complete 18 to 21 months of military duty under the mandatory conscription system. Top-performing athletes and artists can instead fulfill their obligation through 34 months of alternative community service, effectively being exempt from active military duty.

Hong said the government is drawing up an overhaul plan focused on raising the bar for eligibility and scaling back the designation of eligible competitions.

"We have established a consensus with the culture ministry ... and it is subject to final review," she said.

"We will take responsibility to ensure that a reasonable reform plan is established by next year," Hong added.

Amid growing public outrage, the defense ministry said last week it is considering scaling back or abolishing the military exemption program for athletes and artists. The ministry plans to detail the overhaul in its upcoming defense reform plan.

elly@yna.co.kr (END)

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Military manpower agency chief voices regret over Asian Games footballers' gloating about military exemption

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首尔，10月12日（韩联社）——韩国兵务厅厅长周一表示遗憾，韩国足球运动员在最近的亚运会上获胜后，因免服兵役而沾沾自喜。

兵务厅厅长洪素英在国会审计期间发表了上述言论。此前，一些金牌获得者在媒体采访和社交媒体上炫耀自己获得了豁免，引发了公众的强烈反弹，并再次引发了对政策进行彻底改革的呼声。

洪先生说：“我对这一不幸事件深感遗憾。我非常重视正在服役的年轻军人所感受到的失落感，以及公众要求改革的呼声。”

2026年8月5日，韩国兵务厅长官洪素英在首尔青瓦台向总统汇报政策时发表讲话。（资料照片）（韩联社）

10月3日，在亚运会男子足球比赛中夺得金牌后，国家队队员之一杨敏赫告诉媒体，他参加这场比赛是为了获得豁免权，而不是为了赢得奖牌或奖杯。

团队的另一位成员朴承洙上传了一张自己戴着军帽的照片，这种帽子通常是服完兵役的男性佩戴的。

他们的行为引发了公众的广泛愤怒。

在韩国，所有身体健全的男性都必须按照强制征兵制度服役18至21个月。而成绩优异的运动员和艺术家则可以选择以34个月的社区服务来代替服役，从而免除现役兵役。

洪表示，政府正在制定一项改革计划，重点是提高参赛资格标准，并缩减符合资格的比赛的指定范围。

“我们已经与文化部达成共识……但仍需最终审核，”她说。

洪补充道：“我们将承担起责任，确保明年之前制定出合理的改革方案。”

面对日益高涨的公众舆论，国防部上周表示，正在考虑缩减或取消运动员和艺术家的兵役豁免计划。国防部计划在即将出台的国防改革方案中详细阐述这项改革措施。

elly@yna.co.kr（完）

文化部长承诺审查运动员和艺术家的兵役豁免制度。

国防部考虑取消运动员和艺术家的兵役豁免权，引发争议

（亚运会）20名获得金牌的运动员中，有9名是海外足球运动员，他们将获得兵役豁免权

（韩联社专访）MMA总裁：对兵役制度进行“根本性”改革对国家安全至关重要

兵务处处长对亚运会足球运动员炫耀免服兵役表示遗憾