Defense ministry considering scrapping military exemption for athletes, artists amid controversy

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SEOUL, Oct. 6 (Yonhap) -- The defense ministry said Tuesday it is considering scaling back or abolishing the country's military service exemption system for athletes and artists amid controversy over inappropriate remarks about military exemptions by South Korean gold medalists at the Asian Games.

The backlash was sparked by some members of the national men's football team, who publicly indicated that their primary focus during the tournament was securing a military exemption rather than winning the gold medal itself, renewing an ongoing debate over the fairness of the exemption system.

"Ultimately, we have plans to cut back or scrap the supplementary service, including one designed for artists and athletes, and reflect it in the basic outline for defense reforms," ministry spokesperson Chung Binna said during a regular press briefing.

Chung said the ministry will take into consideration factors including fairness among those subject to mandatory military service, the declining number of people available for military service and public consensus in making its decision.

The national football team clinched the gold medal in men's football at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Saturday, beating Japan in a 1-0 win, leaving 20 out of 23 players on the team eligible for supplementary service.

In South Korea, all able-bodied men must complete 18 to 21 months of service under a mandatory draft system. However, artists and athletes who win top awards at domestic or international competitions designated by the government are essentially exempt from their military duties.

Instead, they are required to complete three weeks of basic training and 544 hours of community service over 34 months.

Following Saturday's match, Yang Min-hyeok, one of the football players on the South Korean national team, drew public outcry over remarks he made in an interview, saying he was solely focused on securing a military service exemption rather than winning a medal or trophy. Another member of the team, Park Seung-soo, posted a photo of himself wearing a cap typically worn by people who have completed their mandatory military service.

"From the perspective of the defense ministry, we are deeply sorry for the remarks made by some people in the sports industry," Chung said. "The ministry hopes that the sacrifice of the armed forces and reservists carrying out their duties at this very moment will be respected by the public, and that a culture that recognizes the value of military service will take root in society," she added.

In this file photo, defense ministry spokesperson Chung Binna speaks during a press briefing on Aug. 10, 2026, in the first such briefing after the defense ministry compound relocated to its previous site used by former President Yoon Suk Yeol. (Yonhap)

sookim@yna.co.kr (END)

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Defense ministry considering scrapping military exemption for athletes, artists amid controversy

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首尔，10月6日（韩联社）——韩国国防部周二表示，鉴于韩国亚运会金牌得主就兵役豁免发表不当言论引发争议，国防部正在考虑缩减或取消该国针对运动员和艺术家的兵役豁免制度。

此次事件的导火索是国家男子足球队的一些成员，他们公开表示，他们在比赛期间的主要目标是获得兵役豁免，而不是赢得金牌本身，这再次引发了关于豁免制度公平性的持续争论。

“最终，我们计划削减或取消补充兵役，包括为艺术家和运动员设计的兵役，并将在国防改革的基本纲要中体现出来，”国防部发言人郑彬那在例行记者会上表示。

钟表示，国防部在做出决定时将考虑诸多因素，包括对强制兵役者的公平性、可服兵役人数的减少以及公众的共识。

周六，韩国国家足球队在爱知-名古屋亚运会男子足球比赛中以 1-0 战胜日本队，夺得金牌，队中 23 名球员中有 20 人符合补充兵役的条件。

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。然而，在政府指定的国内或国际比赛中获得最高奖项的艺术家和运动员基本上可以免除兵役。

相反，他们需要在 34 个月内完成三周的基础训练和 544 小时的社区服务。

周六的比赛结束后，韩国国家足球队队员杨敏赫在接受采访时发表的言论引发公众强烈抗议。他声称自己一心只想获得兵役豁免，而不是赢得奖牌或奖杯。另一名队员朴承洙则在社交媒体上发布了一张自己戴着通常由已完成兵役人员佩戴的帽子的照片。

郑女士表示：“国防部对体育界某些人士的言论深表歉意。国防部希望民众尊重此刻正在执行任务的军人和预备役人员所作出的牺牲，并希望社会上能够形成重视军人服役价值的文化。”

这张资料照片显示，国防部发言人郑彬娜于2026年8月10日在新闻发布会上发表讲话。这是国防部迁至前总统尹锡悦曾使用过的旧址后举行的首次新闻发布会。（韩联社）

sookim@yna.co.kr (完)

（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

（头条）亚运会 PGA巡回赛冠军金柱亨夺得男子高尔夫球金牌，并帮助韩国队获得团体银牌

国防部考虑取消运动员和艺术家的兵役豁免权，引发争议