South Korea May Scale Back Military Service Exemption for Athletes Following Asian Games Backlash
Following public criticism regarding controversial comments made by some gold medal-winning football players at the Asian Games, South Korea's Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism stated that the military service exemption system for athletes and artists will likely need to be reduced or abolished.
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According to the South China Morning Post, the military service exemption granted to South Korean athletes who win gold medals may face abolition or reduction in the future, subsequent to public disapproval of certain remarks made by winners at the Asian Games.
Three members of the men's football squad faced criticism after South Korea secured a 1-0 victory over Japan in the Asian Games final held in Japan last weekend. Although all three players issued apologies, a wider discussion had already resurfaced concerning whether athletes should be afforded special consideration for their sporting accomplishments, especially given that regular citizens, including members of the globally recognized K-pop group BTS, are required to complete mandatory service.
Criticism escalated on Tuesday, and on Wednesday, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young informed the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee that the alternative military service exemption framework for athletes and artists “will inevitably have to be scaled back.”
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