SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- The culture-sports minister on Wednesday vowed to review the country's military service exemptions for talented athletes and artists amid a controversy sparked by inappropriate remarks about the exemptions by South Korean gold medalists at the Asian Games.
Some members of the under-23 national men's football team came under fire when they flaunted their military service exemption after the team clinched the gold medal at the Asian Games on Saturday, reigniting a long-held debate over the fairness of the exemption system.
"The ministry will listen to the views of the sports and arts communities and consult with the Ministry of National Defense and the Military Manpower Administration to devise comprehensive measures on the issue, as it has raised concerns among the public," Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Chae Hwi-young said.
He was responding to a question from Rep. Cho Gye-won of the ruling Democratic Party during an annual parliamentary audit of the ministry.
Culture-sports minister Chae Hwi-young attends a regular parliamentary audit of his ministry at the National Assembly in Seoul on Oct. 7, 2026. (Yonhap)
In South Korea, all able-bodied men must complete 18 to 21 months of military 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. In sports, athletes who win a medal at the Olympics or a gold medal at the Asian Games can be exempt from the service.
Chae's remarks came a day after the defense ministry said it is considering scaling back or abolishing the exemption system, citing fairness among those subject to mandatory military service and the declining number of people available for military service among other factors.
During the audit at the National Assembly, Cho pointed to concerns among young people over the fairness of the benefits.
Following Saturday's match, Yang Min-hyeok, one of the national football team members, drew public outcry by saying that he was solely focused on securing a military service exemption rather than winning a medal itself. Another member, Park Seung-soo, posted a photo of himself wearing a cap typically worn by people who have completed their mandatory military service.
The lawmaker also pointed out that the system disproportionately favors certain sports as 36 of the 43 athletes eligible for the benefit at this year's Asian Games were football or baseball players.
Chae, in response, acknowledged that the system had helped athletes and artists with outstanding abilities maintain and develop their skills. "But the public perceptions of military service and the value placed on fairness seem to have changed considerably with the times," he said.