[Anchor]
The national football team, which won the gold medal yesterday, is facing criticism for remarks and actions that seemed to trivialize the "duty of national defense." Although the players immediately apologized, voices demanding an overhaul of the military service exemption system itself are growing louder.
Reporter Lee Jeong-Chan has the story.
[Reporter]
When the final whistle blew to mark the end of a fierce battle and a 1-to-0 victory was confirmed, the players, who achieved an unprecedented four consecutive championships, shed heavy tears.
Celebration parties followed across various places, but the actions and remarks of some players who received military service exemption benefits through this victory sparked controversy.
Nineteen-year-old youngest member Park Seung-su posted a verification photo wearing a so-called "discharge cap," drawing criticism that he was mocking military service, and remarks by captain Lee Gi-hyeok, who was facing imminent enlistment in the Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps, fueled the controversy further.
[Lee Gi-hyeok / Captain, Asian Games Men's Football National Team: It was a very important tournament regarding military exemption, especially since enlistment was right in front of me. (Is it heavy?) I'm not going to the military.]
Lee Gi-hyeok apologized on behalf of the national team immediately upon entering the country today, but the emotional touch of the fighting spirit shown by the players last night had already turned cold.
[I truly and sincerely want to convey my apologies to everyone fulfilling their military defense duties, and all the players are reflecting on this. I am sorry.]
Previously, the baseball national team also drew public ire by emphasizing only the result of the gold medal without paying attention to criticisms regarding their game performance.
[Noh Si-hwan / Captain, Asian Games Baseball National Team: As you can see, we achieved five consecutive titles, and because we won the gold medal to show them, completely ignoring such things (criticism)...]
As attitudes from players treating the duty of national defense like a "punishment" continue to surface, voices calling for a complete overhaul of the military service exemption system are spreading.
People Power Party lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo pointed out that "military exemption is undeserved for national athletes who loathe the military," and lawmaker Na Kyung-won added that "the problem is not the players but the outdated system," stating that systematic reform must begin responsibly.
Reported by Yoo Dong-hyuk | Video by Lee Sang-min | Graphics by Park Taeyoung
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