[Re-examination of military service special provisions] ② Who gets it and who doesn’t?… I'm upset about the 'crooked discharge cap'

In response to the Asian Games controversy, young people say, ‘Our 20s are also important’… “Fair military service obligation is more important”

There is also a question mark in the standards for promoting national prestige... “BTS also went to the military, but who contributed more?”

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Minhyuk Yoon = “They say the 20s are important for athletes, but isn’t it an equally precious time for other young people?”

Mr. Ahn (27), who met with Yonhap News on the 8th, said that his perspective on the special military service system has changed significantly due to the recent Asian Games controversy.

Questions about fairness have spread, asking, ‘Who gets it and who doesn’t?’

At one time, it was thought that special military service exemption was necessary for athletes as their 20s were the ‘golden age’, but looking back, the perception has become established that the 20s are equally precious times for other young people.

Mr. Ahn said, “The 20s are an important time for people who work at logistics centers, prepare for exams, and want to become police officers,” and asked, “Wouldn’t it be better to delay the enlistment age or focus on improving the military culture?”

The words and actions of some national team athletes who won gold medals at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games who took military service lightly have ignited public opinion like Ahn's.

The question is whether it is appropriate to provide military service benefits to certain fields in the name of enhancing national prestige.

Mr. Kim (27), who completed his active military service, said, "In the past, promoting national prestige through art and sports may have been important, but Korea has already joined the ranks of advanced countries. I do not believe that promoting national prestige is a more important value than the fair burden of military service."

He continued, “Economic and social achievements through arts and sports activities ultimately go to the individual athletes,” and pointed out that special military service provisions for specific achievements no longer fit the times.

In detail, questions are being raised about giving special military service treatment to those who win a gold medal in the Asian Games, which have a lower threshold than the Olympics.

According to the enforcement ordinance of the current Military Service Act, arts and sports personnel are supplementary positions to which artists and sports personnel who meet certain requirements, such as third place or higher in the Olympics, first place winners in the Asian Games, or winners in international art contests determined by the Commissioner of the Military Manpower Administration, are transferred.

They receive basic military training and work in the relevant field for 34 months while performing designated public service obligations.

Mr. Jin (27), who completed his active duty service, said that some special military service exemptions for cultural and sportspersons are necessary, but said, "Considering the level of the competition, it is difficult to say that the Asian Games contributed greatly to the country just by winning. I think the Asian Games military service special treatment can be abolished."

Kim Jun-heon (23), who served as a social worker, also said, "It is a waste for an athlete who is outstanding enough to win a medal to devote time to military service," but added, "There is a need for discussion as those who served on active duty may feel that this is not justified."

Some point out that the standards for promoting national prestige themselves are ambiguous.

Kim Chang-young (26), who completed his active duty service, said, "It must be fully acknowledged that the national team players achieved good results," but added, "When I look at cases like BTS, who served in the military even after promoting Korea to the world, I question what the standards for promoting national prestige are."

A current public interest lawyer in his 20s also pointed out, “It is questionable whether the Asian Games have that much value compared to the Olympics.”

The fire of public opinion also spread among active-duty soldiers.

Lee Shin-hyeong (22), an active-duty soldier, said, "As a person who likes sports, I hope that athletes' challenges are not blocked by military service," but added, "I think it has lost justification to give special military service treatment just for the Asian Games gold medal to athletes who already receive more benefits than the general public through systems such as the Armed Forces Athletic Corps (Sangmu)."

He added, “I think it is right to delay the enlistment period so that he can continue his career as an athlete, but abolish the sports personnel system.”

Bae Kang-hyeon (22), who is also an active-duty soldier, said, "Originally, while watching the game, the reaction in the unit was as a joke, 'If you can't do it, just come to the military.'" He added, "After the controversy, the atmosphere changed to saying that even if you win a gold medal, you should join the military."

It was also pointed out that soccer player Park Seung-soo's playful salute while wearing a crooked 'discharge cap' touched the emotions of military soldiers.

Mr. Bae criticized, “Receiving benefits from the state may be true in itself, but it is not appropriate to proudly show them.”

Institutions also began to move.

On the 5th, a 'petition regarding the abolition of the military service exemption system for entertainers and athletes' was received on the National Assembly Petition for Public Consent website.

Minister of National Defense Kang Shin-cheol announced on the 7th during the National Defense Committee audit of the National Assembly that the Ministry of National Defense's goal is to gradually reduce and ultimately abolish special military service provisions.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young also announced his intention to consult with relevant ministries during a government audit on the same day, saying, “Of course, we have no choice but to go in the direction of reducing it.”

Political circles, regardless of the ruling or opposition parties, are also predicting changes to special military service provisions.

Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, announced that they had reached a tentative agreement to leave the review of system reform to relevant standing committee members, and People Power Party lawmaker Joo Ho-young proposed an amendment to the Military Service Act that would abolish the standard for uniform special military service based on Asian Games gold medals.

The Military Manpower Administration has been conducting policy research to improve the system even before the Asian Games. It is reported that the results will be released around the middle of next month.