{"id":7319,"date":"2026-10-07T14:07:49","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T14:07:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=7319"},"modified":"2026-10-07T14:07:49","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T14:07:49","slug":"south-korea-signals-military-exemption-cuts-for-athletes-after-asian-games-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=7319","title":{"rendered":"South Korea signals military exemption cuts for athletes after Asian Games | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"
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South Korea signals cuts to military exemptions for gold medallists after backlash over athletes\u2019 Asian Games comments.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Published On 7 Oct 2026<\/span>7 Oct 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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South Korea\u2019s sports minister says the government will review the military service exemption for gold-medal-winning athletes after public backlash to some controversial comments from winners at the Asian Games.<\/p>\n

Three players from the men\u2019s football team came under fire for comments following South Korea\u2019s 1-0 win over Japan in the Asian Games final last weekend in Japan.<\/p>\n

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All three apologised, but a broader debate had already reignited over whether athletes should receive special treatment for sporting achievements, particularly as common citizens, as even members of BTS \u2013 the globally famous K-pop group \u2013 had to complete their mandatory service.<\/p>\n

Al Jazeera Sport takes a closer look at the furore surrounding the comments at the Asian Games<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi-young on Wednesday said the alternative military service exemption system for artists and athletes \u201cwill inevitably have to be scaled back\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is true that the system has contributed to helping outstanding artists and athletes maintain and develop their abilities,\u201d Choi told the National Assembly\u2019s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, the values attached to fairness and public perceptions of military service have changed. I agree that the system should be comprehensively reviewed once again.\u201d<\/p>\n

What does military service look like in South Korea?<\/h2>\n

Most South Korean men must complete 18 to 21 months of military service by the age of 28.<\/p>\n

Since 1973, however, Olympic medallists and Asian Games gold medallists have been able to replace the full term with a supplementary service, which consists of three weeks of basic training.<\/p>\n

Three of the footballers, including Yang Min-hyuk, who assisted the winning goal against Japan, made comments that were viewed as insensitive.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe medal and winning the championship weren\u2019t important. I played the game with only one thing in mind \u2013 the reward of a military service exemption,\u201d Yang, who joined Tottenham Hotspur in 2025 and is currently on loan at Belgian club Westerlo, said.<\/p>\n

Newcastle United midfielder Park Seung-soo posted a photo on social media showing him wearing a cap associated with soldiers who have completed their service. In a post-match interview, captain Lee Gi-hyuk held up his gold medal and said, \u201cI\u2019m not going to the military.\u201d<\/p>\n

What has been said elsewhere in South Korea about the controversy?<\/h2>\n

A number of politicians, including Ahn Cheol-soo of the People Power Party, said it was time to change the system.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome players\u2019 remarks after the match were outrageous,\u201d Ahn posted on social media. \u201cEven the captain bragged about not having to serve in the military. Are all the young people who enlist every year fools?\u201d<\/p>\n

Former lawmaker Yoo Seong-min said the flippant comments had provoked resentment and asked: \u201cIs it really fair that BTS has to serve in the military while Asian Games gold medallists are exempt?\u201d<\/p>\n

In a Korea Herald editorial on Tuesday, the newspaper declared that the practice was outdated.<\/p>\n

\u201cSouth Korea now stands shoulder to shoulder with the world\u2019s leading nations,\u201d the newspaper said. \u201cThe days when finishing first in Asia could meaningfully enhance the country\u2019s national prestige are long gone. It is time to reconsider.\u201d<\/p>\n

That was the message from Defence Ministry spokesperson Chung Binna during a press briefing in Seoul.<\/p>\n

\u201cUltimately, we have plans to cut back or scrap the supplementary service, including one designed for artists and athletes,\u201d Chung said.<\/p>\n

What other athletes gained military-service exemptions?<\/h2>\n

The footballers were among many winners from the Asian Games who qualified for the military exemption.<\/p>\n

Golfer Tom Kim won the men\u2019s singles on Saturday after flying across the Pacific when the Presidents Cup competition ended so he could compete in Japan. Asked about the military exemption, he took the gold-medal approach.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m more proud that I\u2019m able to bring a medal for my country,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Sixteen South Korean baseball players are also exempt after defeating Japan 3-1 in the Asian Games final. So are three South Koreans who won gold in esports, an event at the Asian Games.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n


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South Korea signals cuts to military exemptions for gold medallists after backlash over athletes\u2019 Asian Games comments. Published On 7 Oct 20267 Oct 2026 South Korea\u2019s sports minister says the government will review the military service exemption for gold-medal-winning athletes after public backlash to some controversial comments from winners at the Asian Games. Three players…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7320,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_2277560469115098_106292521332774":"","twitter_aToxNzczMzI3Njk4OTg4ODUxMjAxOw==_1773327698988851200":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_templately_pack_id":"","_templately_imported_at":"","_templately_source":"","_templately_import_session_id":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7319","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-international-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t