People Power Party lawmaker Cho Eun-hee analyzes Ministry of Culture data

65 of 80 exemptees over 5 years won gold at Asian Games

Critics say system has become a military service loophole, not a national honor

South Korean football player Park Seung-su poses in a military discharge cap after winning gold at the Asian Games. [Park Seung-su's social media]
South Korean football player Park Seung-su poses in a military discharge cap after winning gold at the Asian Games. [Park Seung-su's social media]

Eight out of every 10 athletes granted military service exemptions over the past five years were Asian Games gold medalists, data shows.

The figures emerged after People Power Party lawmaker Cho Eun-hee requested data from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism following a controversy over remarks made by members of the South Korean football team. The team won gold at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and made comments widely criticized as dismissive of military service.

According to Ministry of Culture data released Wednesday, 65 of the 80 athletes enrolled as sports personnel under the military service exemption program between 2022 and August this year were Asian Games gold medalists.

The remaining 15 received the benefit through Olympic medals — gold, silver or bronze.

The arts and sports personnel system, introduced in 1973, grants military service benefits to those who have brought honor to the country in the arts or athletics.

Under the program, those enrolled complete basic military training and then fulfill their service obligation by working in their professional field for 34 months while completing 544 hours of community service for vulnerable groups, preschool children and youth.

Critics argue that maintaining Asian Games gold medals as grounds for exemption is outdated, given that South Korea has become a dominant force across many sports in Asia. They say granting near-full exemptions for Asian Games gold — which carries a lower level of competition than the Olympics — is excessive.

South Korea's football squad at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games fielded its under-23 team bolstered by Europe-based players, while Japan fielded an under-21 side — two years younger. The South Korean baseball team similarly sent KBO League players, whereas Japan's squad was composed mainly of amateur players, making the matchups uneven from the outset.

Amid the controversy, football team captain Lee Gi-hyeok declared immediately after winning the final, "I'm not going to the military," while Yang Min-hyeok said he "played solely for the military exemption." Park Seung-su, who played 16 minutes in the final, drew further criticism after posting a photo of himself wearing a military discharge cap on social media — despite never having served. The remarks were widely condemned as disrespectful to active-duty soldiers and those who had completed their service obligations, and all three later apologized.

The Defense Ministry said Tuesday it found the remarks by some of the players "deeply regrettable" and announced plans to pursue a reduction or abolition of exemptions for supplementary service personnel, including arts and sports enrollees.

"Without clear and justifiable criteria for military service exemptions, public trust in the sanctity of the service obligation will erode," Cho said. "We need to review abolishing the exemption system altogether."


jshan@heraldcorp.com