Korea plans to phase out military service exemptions for athletes, artists

The Military Manpower Administration plans to gradually reduce and eventually abolish special military service arrangements for athletes and artists in South Korea. The proposal would restrict arts eligibility to first-place international winners and one winner per domestic traditional arts competition. A commissioned study is due in late November, with broader consultations to follow before changes are finalized next year.

The MMA said 86.6 percent of artists admitted to the program over the past five years qualified through domestic competitions.

Eligible athletes and artists complete basic military training and serve in their fields for 34 months, including mandatory public service, rather than performing active military duty.

MMA Commissioner Hong So-young said the system could not be abolished overnight and that completing the overhaul by the end of this year would be difficult.

The debate intensified after footballers celebrated military benefits following South Korea’s Asian Games gold-medal victory, prompting criticism from men serving in the military.

Published Oct 12, 2026 3:39 pm KST

Military Manpower Administration Commissioner Hong So-young answers lawmakers' questions during a National Assembly National Defense Committee audit of the agency in Daejeon, Monday. Yonhap

Korea plans to gradually phase out special military service arrangements for athletes and artists, while tightening eligibility for international arts competitions, the head of the Military Manpower Administration (MMA) said Monday.

MMA Commissioner Hong So-young told lawmakers during a National Assembly audit that she backed the Ministry of National Defense’s plan to scale back the exemption program before eventually abolishing it.

“Our position is the same as the defense ministry’s,” Hong said, adding that the proposal was undergoing a final review as part of the government’s defense reform plan and would be announced soon.

Under measures presented to the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee, the MMA plans to limit eligibility only to first-place winners at international arts competitions, rather than granting exemption to both first-place and second-place winners.

It also aims to cut the number of qualifying winners at domestic traditional arts competitions from two or three per event to one. The agency said 86.6 percent of artists admitted to the program over the past five years had qualified through domestic competitions.

Eligibility rules for athletes will also be reviewed, taking public acceptance of the system into account.

Hong cautioned that the overhaul would take time. A commissioned study is expected to be completed in late November, after which the agency will consult relevant ministries and affected groups.

“We cannot abolish the system overnight,” she said. “I will take responsibility for coming up with reasonable changes to the eligibility criteria next year, but it would be difficult to finish the plan by the end of this year.”

The debate has intensified since several footballers celebrated receiving military service benefits after the Korean football team won gold at the Asian Games, drawing criticism from men required to serve in uniform.

“I deeply regret what happened,” Hong said. “I take seriously the sense of loss felt by young men fulfilling their military duties and the public’s calls to change the system.”

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul said at an audit last week that his ministry ultimately aims to abolish the special arrangements.

The program does not remove military obligations entirely. Eligible athletes and artists undergo basic military training and serve in their fields for 34 months, including mandatory public service, instead of performing active military duty.

On a separate question about conscripting women, Hong said neither the MMA nor the defense ministry was considering the idea.

“It is an issue with far-reaching social implications,” she said, adding that the government would first seek broader public support while gradually increasing the proportion of female military officers.

韩国兵务厅计划逐步减少并最终取消韩国运动员和艺术家享有的特殊兵役待遇。该提案将艺术类运动员的服役资格限制在国际比赛一等奖获得者和国内传统艺术比赛各一名优胜者。一项委托研究报告预计将于11月下旬完成，之后还将进行更广泛的公众咨询，最终方案将于明年敲定。

MMA表示，过去五年中，86.6%进入该项目的艺术家是通过国内比赛获得资格的。

符合条件的运动员和艺术家完成基础军事训练后，将在各自的领域服务 34 个月，包括强制性公共服务，而不是履行现役军人义务。

MMA专员洪素英表示，该制度不可能在一夜之间废除，在今年年底前完成改革也十分困难。

在韩国赢得亚运会金牌后，足球运动员庆祝军人福利，引发了现役军人的批评，这场争论也因此愈演愈烈。

发布于2026年10月12日下午3:39（韩国标准时间）

周一，在韩国大田举行的国会国防委员会对该机构进行审计期间，兵务厅长官洪素英回答了议员们的提问。（韩联社）

韩国兵务厅厅长周一表示，韩国计划逐步取消运动员和艺术家的特殊兵役安排，同​​时收紧参加国际艺术比赛的资格。

MMA专员洪素英在国会审计期间告诉议员们，她支持国防部逐步缩减豁免计划，最终废除该计划的方案。

洪表示：“我们的立场与国防部的立场一致。”他还补充说，该提案正在作为政府国防改革计划的一部分进行最终审查，并将很快公布。

根据提交给国民议会国防委员会的措施，韩国武术协会计划将参赛资格限制在国际艺术比赛的一等奖获得者，而不是同时豁免一等奖和二等奖获得者。

该计划还旨在将国内传统艺术比赛的合格获奖者人数从每项比赛两到三人减少到一人。该机构表示，过去五年中，86.6%入选该计划的艺术家都是通过国内比赛获得资格的。

运动员资格规则也将进行审查，同时考虑公众对该制度的接受程度。

洪先生提醒说，这项改革需要时间。一项委托研究预计将于11月下旬完成，之后该机构将与相关部门和受影响群体进行磋商。

“我们不可能一夜之间废除这个制度，”她说。“明年我会负责提出合理的资格标准修改方案，但要在今年年底前完成这项计划恐怕很难。”

韩国足球队在亚运会上夺得金牌后，几名足球运动员庆祝获得兵役福利，此举引发了需要穿军装服役的男性的批评，也加剧了这场争论。

“我对发生的事情深感遗憾，”洪说。“我认真对待履行兵役义务的年轻人所感受到的失落感，以及公众要求改革制度的呼声。”

国防部长姜信哲上周在一次审计中表示，国防部的最终目标是废除这些特殊安排。

该计划并非完全免除兵役义务。符合条件的运动员和艺术家需接受基础军事训练，并在各自领域服务34个月（包括强制性公共服务），而非履行现役军人义务。

当被问及征召女性入伍的问题时，洪表示，韩国武术协会和国防部都没有考虑过这个想法。

“这是一个具有深远社会影响的问题，”她说道，并补充说，政府将首先寻求更广泛的公众支持，同时逐步提高女军官的比例。